Genetic analysis of H3N2 influenza A viruses isolated in 2006-2007 in Nairobi, Kenya.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Minimal influenza surveillance has been carried out in sub-Saharan Africa to provide information on circulating influenza subtypes for the purpose of vaccine production and monitoring trends in virus spread and mutations.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate a surveillance program in Kenya to isolate and characterize influenza viruses.

Results

In the 2006-2007 influenza season, nine influenza A viruses were isolated. All were of H3N2 subtype with key amino acid (aa) changes indicating that they were more closely related to recent World Health Organization recommended vaccine strains than to older vaccine strains, and mirroring the evolution of circulating influenza A globally. Hemagglutination inhibition data showed that the 2006 Kenya isolate

SUBMITTER: Bulimo WD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4634699 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature