Imminent threat to public health

Influenza infections are highly contagious and are often caused by mild to severe respiratory illness in birds, animals, and humans. Influenza viruses, especially IAV, are recurrent, causing about 3 to 5 million serious illnesses and about 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths worldwide, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) estimate. Causes a regional epidemic.

In recent years, influenza A subtypes H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B virus are seasonal viruses that are prevalent among humans. Therefore, influenza A and B viruses are the only ones included in seasonal influenza vaccines. Pandemic influenza occurs when a new influenza virus appears in a human population that does not have existing immunity to it. The 2009 pandemic (H1N1) was the first in the 21st century. It was caused by a virus of pig origin and was recorded by the media as swine flu. The virus has affected 214 countries around the world. WHO reports revealed that 18,631 laboratory-identified deaths occurred during the pandemic, but statistical modeling uses H1N1 mortality data from different countries to calculate. It was shown to be 10 times the mortality rate. In addition, the virus (H1N1pdm 09) continued to prevail as a seasonal influenza virus along with subtype H3N2 and type B influenza viruses.

Wild waterfowl, such as waterfowl, are the main reservoir of influenza A virus. Although not deadly to these waterfowl, the virus adapts to its natural habitat. However, they can infect a variety of animals, including pigs, horses, marine mammals, birds, and humans. The highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are H5 and H7, and the less pathogenic subtypes are H9 and H10. By the end of 2005, highly pathogenic H5NI virus had been reported from East, Southeast, Central Asia and Europe. In February 2006, viral infections were seen in Pakistan, India and Nigeria, threatening not only poultry but also global society by inducing the possibility of the next pandemic.

Although animal-to-human transmission of the avian influenza virus is rare, 20 human cases of influenza A (H5N1) were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in 2007. These cases show that human-to-human transmission is possible. A major public health concern. Influenza A causes high prevalence with a significant increase in hospital spending and tax exemptions, which can reduce a country’s production capacity. In addition, excessive death from this disease is a major burden on the country.

Influenza is considered to be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, but a limited number of epidemiological studies are being conducted in developing countries such as Pakistan. In this regard, we conducted population-based cross-sectional surveys and hospital-based sentry surveillance from 2015 to 2016. The reason was to accurately estimate and deepen the understanding of the burden of disease in Lahore’s population. Of disease epidemiology in the community. We also collected information on the genetic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of circulating virus strains collected through active hospital-based monitoring.

Our study concluded that the pandemic (H1N1pdm09) and seasonal (H3N2) influenza viruses are endemic in the community. A clear seasonal peak of influenza A confirmed in the laboratory was recorded in December 2015, and cases of respiratory illness (influenza-like other than influenza) were also recorded during the study period. This will reach its maximum in February 2016. In addition, influenza A was detected. A total of 50 out of influenza A cases of subtypes H1N1pdm 09 (28%) and H3N2 (30%), 311.

In our study, of the 100 patients reported to the outdoor clinic, 16 were new cases of influenza A, about 10 out of 100 were existing cases, and were already present in the Lahore population. It was confirmed that there was. The genetic characteristics of the virus showed that both H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes were resistant to almost all antiviral drugs, but were susceptible to the WHO-recommended influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere. I will. Therefore, these estimates allow relevant health authorities to initiate public health interventions at the appropriate time to prevent and control the next influenza epidemic in the country and to effectively manage the disease. Influenza vaccination can be included in the national vaccination schedule.