Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Co-infection | CDC EID

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Volume 16, Number 10–October 2010
Dispatch
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) Co-infection, New Zealand, 2009
Matthew Peacey , Richard J. Hall, Stephanie Sonnberg, Mariette Ducatez, Shevaun Paine, Mackenzie Nicol, Jacqui C. Ralston, Don Bandaranayake, Virginia Hope, Richard J. Webby, and Sue Huang
Author affiliations: The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Upper Hutt, New Zealand (M. Peacey, R.J. Hall, S. Paine, M. Nicol, J.C. Ralston, D. Bandaranayake, V. Hope, S. Huang); St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA (S. Sonnberg, M. Ducatez, R.J. Webby); and Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia (S. Paine)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Co-infection with seasonal influenza A (H1N1) and pandemic (H1N1) 2009 could result in reassortant viruses that may acquire new characteristics of transmission, virulence, and oseltamivir susceptibility. Results from oseltamivir-sensitivity testing on viral culture suggested the possibility of co-infections with oseltamivir-resistant (seasonal A [H1N1]) and -susceptible (pandemic [H1N1] 2009) viruses.


Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was first identified in mid-April 2009 (1), near the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere influenza season. The potential for reassortment of cocirculating seasonal influenza A viruses with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus within New Zealand generated considerable interest during the recent 2009 Southern Hemisphere influenza season (2,3). Of particular concern is the potential reassortment of neuraminidase gene segments leading to an oseltamivir-resistant pandemic strain.

Changes in the genome of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus by reassortment, recombination, or point mutation have the potential to alter the transmissibility, antigenicity, antiviral drug resistance, or virulence of the virus. Reassortment can occur when 2 viruses co-infect the same cell. The 8 influenza gene segments of each virus could then be exchanged, creating a reassortant virus. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is itself a reassortant virus containing gene segments of avian, human, and swine influenza virus origin (4). We report human co-infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza A (H1N1) viruses.

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Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Co-infection | CDC EID

Suggested Citation for this Article
Peacey M, Sonnberg S, Ducatez M, Paine S, Nicol M, Ralston JC, et al. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal A (H1N1) influenza co-infection, New Zealand, 2009. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Oct [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/10/1618.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1610.100116


Comments to the Authors
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Address for correspondence: Matthew Peacey, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease, PO Box 40158, Upper Hutt 5140, New Zealand; email: mathew.peacey@esr.cri.nz