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Detection of influenza in managed quarantine in Australia and the estimated risk of importation.
Peck, Heidi; Anbumurali, Nithila; McMahon, Kimberley; Freeman, Kevin; Aziz, Ammar; Gillespie, Leah; Yang, Bingyi; Moselen, Jean; Deng, Yi Mo; Cowling, Benjamin J; Barr, Ian G; Subbarao, Kanta; Sullivan, Sheena G.
  • Peck H; WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Anbumurali N; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • McMahon K; Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health service, NT health.
  • Freeman K; Territory Pathology, Department of Health, Northern Territory Government, Darwin, Australia.
  • Aziz A; WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Gillespie L; WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Yang B; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
  • Moselen J; WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Deng YM; WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Cowling BJ; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
  • Barr IG; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
  • Subbarao K; WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Sullivan SG; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
Clin Infect Dis ; 2022 Aug 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2234281
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Influenza circulated at historically-low levels during 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. In Australia, international arrivals to Australia were required to undertake 14 days hotel quarantine to limit new introduction of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

METHODS:

We used routine testing data for travellers arriving on repatriation flights to Darwin, Australia from 3 January to 11 October 2021 to identify importations of influenza virus into Australia and used this information to estimate the risk of a case exiting quarantine while still infectious. Influenza-positive samples were sequenced and cases were followed-up to identify transmission clusters. Data on the number of cases and total passengers was used to infer the risk of influenza cases existing quarantine while infectious.

RESULTS:

Despite very low circulation of influenza globally, 42 cases were identified among 15,026 returned travellers, of which 30 were A(H3N2), two were A(H1N1)pdm09 and 10 were B/Victoria. Virus sequencing data identified potential in-flight transmission, as well as independent infections prior to travel. Under the quarantine strategy in place at the time, the probability that these cases could initiate influenza outbreaks in Australia neared 0. However, this probability rose as quarantine requirements relaxed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Detection of influenza virus infections in repatriated travellers provided a source of influenza viruses otherwise unavailable and enabled development of the A(H3N2) vaccine seed viruses included in the 2022 Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine. Failing to test quarantined returned travellers for influenza, represents a missed opportunity for enhanced surveillance to better inform public health preparedness.

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Language: English Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Cid

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Language: English Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Cid