National Weekly Bulletin

NATIONAL WEEKLY INFLUENZA BULLETIN OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

week 18 of 2023 (01.05.23 - 07.05.23)

Summary

Influenza and ARI incidence data. Influenza and other ARI activity in Russia decrease in comparison with previous week. The nationwide ILI and ARI morbidity level (45.6 per 10 000 of population) was lower than national baseline (70.0) by 34.9%.

Etiology of ILI & ARI. Among 4270 patients investigation 54 (1.3%) respiratory samples were positive for influenza, including 6 cases of influenza A unsubtyped in 4 cities and 48 cases of influenza B in 17 cities.

No influenza viruses were isolated on MDCK cell culture. Since the beginning of the season 1208 influenza viruses were isolated on MDCK cell culture, including: 777 viruses A(H1N1)pdm09, 30 viruses A(H3N2) and 401 viruses B.

Antigenic characterization. Since the beginning of the season, 650 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have been antigenically characterized by the NICs, including: Moscow (105) and Saint-Petersburg (545), 29 influenza A(H3N2) viruses in Moscow (2) and Saint-Petersburg (27) and 211 influenza B, including: Moscow (15) and Saint-Petersburg (196). All viruses A(H1N1)pdm09 were antigenically similar to reference strain A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09. 27 influenza A(H3N2) strains were similar to the reference virus A/Darwin/9/2021 and 2 influenza A(H3N2) viruses reacted with the reference virus antiserum to a 1:8 homologous titer. 209 influenza B viruses were antigenically similar to reference strain В/Austria/1359417/2021 and 2 influenza B viruses reacted with the reference virus antiserum to a 1:8 homologous titer.

Genetic analysis. Sequencing of 993 influenza viruses and isolates from primary clinical materials from patients was performed by NIC (Saint-Petersburg). According to phylogenetic analysis, 904 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were assigned to genetic subgroup 6 B.1A.5a.2 and similar to reference virus A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09; 27 A(H3N2) viruses was assigned to subgroup 3C.2 a1b.2a.2 and similar to reference virus Bangladesh/4005/2020 (H3N2); 62 influenza type B viruses were assigned to genetic subgroup V1A.3a.2 reference virus B/Austria/1359417/2021.Susceptibility to antivirals. The sensitivity of 390 influenza viruses to neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir) was studied in two NICs (Moscow, St. Petersburg), including 330 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and 10 A(H3N2) viruses in NIC (Saint-Petersburg) and 45 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and 5 B viruses in NIC (Moscow). All the viruses studied were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir.

ARVI detections. The overall proportion of respiratory samples tested positive for other ARVI (PIV, ADV, RSV, RhV, CoV, MPV, BoV) was estimated in total as 13.9% (PCR).

In sentinel surveillance system clinical samples from 41 SARI patients were investigated by rRT-PCR for influenza, among them 1 (2.4%) case of influenza B. Among 34 SARI samples 2 (5.9%) cases positive for ARVI detected including 1 case PIV and 1 case of RhV infection. 2 (5.6%) of 36 SARI patients were positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Clinical samples from 27 ILI/ARI patients were investigated for influenza by rRT-PCR, among them 1 (3.7%) case of influenza B. Among 21 ILI/ARI samples 5 (23.8%) cases positive for ARVI detected including 1 case PIV, 1 case ADV and 3 cases of RhV infection. 1 (3.7%) of 27 ILI/ARI patients was positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. 

COVID-19. Totally 22 892 353 cases and 398 658 deaths associated with COVID-19 were registered in Russia including 3 111 cases and 28 deaths in last 24 hours (on 12:00 of 12.05.2023). According to the data obtained by NIC in Saint-Petersburg totally 6781 clinical samples were PCR investigated in last week. Among them coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 detected in 546 (8.1%) cases.

Influenza and ARI morbidity data

Epidemiological data showed decrease of influenza and other ARI activity in Russia in comparison with previous week. The nationwide ILI and ARI morbidity level (45.6 per 10 000 of population) was lower than national baseline (70.0) by 34.9%.

Incidence rate of clinically diagnosed influenza decreased comparing to previous week and amounted to 0.079 per 10 000 of population, it was higer than pre-epidemic MEM baseline (0.060).

Hospitalization rate of clinically diagnosed influenza decreased comparing to previous week and amounted to 0.021 per 10 000 of population, it was lower than pre-epidemic MEM baseline (0.040).

Influenza and ARVI laboratory testing results

Cumulative results of influenza laboratory diagnosis by rRT-PCR were submitted by 41 RBLs and two WHO NICs. According to these data as a result of 4270 patients investigation 54 (1.3%) respiratory samples were positive for influenza, including 6 cases of influenza A unsubtyped in 4 cities and 48 cases of influenza B in 17 cities.

No influenza viruses were isolated on MDCK cell culture. Since the beginning of the season 1208 influenza viruses were isolated on MDCK cell culture, including: 777 viruses A(H1N1)pdm09, 30 viruses A(H3N2) and 401 viruses B.

Antigenic characterization. Since the beginning of the season, 650 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have been antigenically characterized by the NICs, including: Moscow (105) and Saint-Petersburg (545), 29 influenza A(H3N2) viruses in Moscow (2) and Saint-Petersburg (27) and 211 influenza B, including: Moscow (15) and Saint-Petersburg (196). All viruses A(H1N1)pdm09 were antigenically similar to reference strain A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09. 27 influenza A(H3N2) strains were similar to the reference virus A/Darwin/9/2021 and 2 influenza A(H3N2) viruses reacted with the reference virus antiserum to a 1:8 homologous titer. 209 influenza B viruses were antigenically similar to reference strain В/Austria/1359417/2021 and 2 influenza B viruses reacted with the reference virus antiserum to a 1:8 homologous titer.Genetic analysis. Sequencing of 993 influenza viruses and isolates from primary clinical materials from patients was performed by NIC (Saint-Petersburg). According to phylogenetic analysis, 904 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were assigned to genetic subgroup 6 B.1A.5a.2 and similar to reference virus A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09; 27 A(H3N2) viruses was assigned to subgroup 3C.2 a1b.2a.2 and similar to reference virus Bangladesh/4005/2020 (H3N2); 62 influenza type B viruses were assigned to genetic subgroup V1A.3a.2 reference virus B/Austria/1359417/2021.Susceptibility to antivirals. The sensitivity of 390 influenza viruses to neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir) was studied in two NICs (Moscow, St. Petersburg), including 330 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and 10 A(H3N2) viruses in NIC (Saint-Petersburg) and 45 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and 5 B viruses in NIC (Moscow). All the viruses studied were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir.

ARVI detections. The overall proportion of respiratory samples tested positive for other ARVI (PIV, ADV, RSV, RhV, CoV, MPV, BoV) estimated as 13.9% of investigated samples by PCR.

Table 1. Results of influenza and other ARVI detection by RT-PCR in Russia, week 18 of 2023

COVID-19. Totally 22 892 353 cases and 398 658 deaths associated with COVID-19 were registered in Russia including 3 111 cases and 28 deaths in last 24 hours (on 12:00 of 12.05.2023). According to the data obtained by NIC in Saint-Petersburg totally 6781 clinical samples were PCR investigated in last week. Among them coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 detected in 546 (8.1%) cases.

Table 2. Results of influenza viruses isolation in Russia, week 18 of 2023

Sentinel influenza surveillance

Clinical samples from 41 SARI patients were investigated by rRT-PCR for influenza, among them 1 (2.4%) case of influenza B. Among 34 SARI samples 2 (5.9%) cases positive for ARVI detected including 1 case PIV and 1 case of RhV infection. 2 (5.6%) of 36 SARI patients were positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. 

Clinical samples from 27 ILI/ARI patients were investigated for influenza by rRT-PCR, among them 1 (3.7%) case of influenza B. Among 21 ILI/ARI samples 5 (23.8%) cases positive for ARVI detected including 1 case PIV, 1 case ADV and 3 cases of RhV infection. 1 (3.7%) of 27 ILI/ARI patients was positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.