Genetic diversity of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) viruses in Finland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Finland, the first infections caused by the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus were identified on May 10. During the next three months almost all infections were found from patients who had recently traveled abroad. In September 2009 the pandemic virus started to spread in the general population, leading to localized outbreaks and peak epidemic activity was reached during weeks 43-48.

Methods/results

The nucleotide sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from viruses collected from 138 patients were determined. The analyzed viruses represented mild and severe infections and different geographic regions and time periods. Based on HA and NA gene sequences, the Finnish pandemic viruses clustered in four groups. Finnish epidemic viruses

SUBMITTER: Ikonen N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2958116 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature