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Isolation of the new variant influenza A (H3N2) strains during an outbreak in Pune, February, 1996

B L Rao1, N S Wairagkar, S N Ranadive

  • 1National Institute of Virology, Pune.

The Indian Journal of Medical Research
|November 5, 1997
PubMed

Insights

An influenza A(H3N2) virus outbreak occurred in Pune in 1996. Viral isolates were similar to global strains, indicating potential for widespread influenza transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Influenza outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
  • Timely identification of circulating influenza strains is crucial for effective response.
  • The year 1996 saw potential for novel influenza virus emergence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the etiological agent responsible for an influenza-like illness outbreak in Pune.
  • To characterize the isolated influenza viruses and compare them to global strains.

Main Methods:

  • Throat and nasal swabs were collected from patients during the outbreak.
  • Viral isolation was performed using Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) and LLC-MK2 cell cultures.
  • Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were identified and characterized.

Main Results:

  • Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were successfully isolated from patient samples.
  • The isolated viruses showed genetic similarity to A/Johannesburg/33/94 and A/Wuhan/359/95 strains.
  • This suggests the outbreak was caused by a globally circulating influenza A(H3N2) subtype.

Conclusions:

  • The 1996 Pune outbreak was attributed to influenza A(H3N2) virus.
  • The genetic similarity to global strains highlights the interconnectedness of influenza surveillance.
  • Findings underscore the importance of ongoing influenza monitoring and strain characterization.

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