Circulation and antigenic drift in human influenza B viruses in SE Asia and Oceania since 2000.

During annual influenza epidemics, influenza B viruses frequently co-circulate with influenza A viruses and in some years, such as 2005, large outbreaks have occurred while in other years, the virus virtually disappears. Since 1987 there have been two lineages of influenza B viruses co-circulating in various countries and causing disease in humans. The proportions of these two lineages vary from year to year and country to country. For example, in 2005, the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage was predominant in New Zealand while in Australia the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage was more common. Antigenic and genetic analysis has revealed gradual movement in the both lineages. Careful monitoring of the two virus lineages is important, as they are antigenically distinct. This is an important consideration for influenza vaccine formulation decisions, as only one influenza B component is traditionally included in the annual trivalent influenza vaccine.