Age-Related Differences in Influenza B Infection by Lineage in a Community-Based Sentinel System, 2010-2011 to 2015-2016, Canada

J Infect Dis. 2017 Sep 15;216(6):697-702. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix393.

Abstract

Age-related differences in influenza B lineage detection were explored in the community-based Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN) from 2010-2011 to 2015-2016. Whereas >80% of B(Victoria) cases were <40 years old, B(Yamagata) cases showed a bimodal age distribution with 27% who were <20 years old and 61% who were 30-64 years old, but with a notable gap in cases between 20 and 29 years old (4%). Overall, the median age was 20 years lower for B(Victoria) vs B(Yamagata) cases (20 vs 40 years; P < .01). Additional phylodynamic and immuno-epidemiological research is needed to understand age-related variation in influenza B risk by lineage, with potential implications for prevention and control across the lifespan.

Keywords: age; birth cohort effects; influenza B lineage; influenza B virus; risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Sentinel Surveillance*
  • Young Adult

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