S-OtrH3N2 viruses: use of sequence data for description of the molecular characteristics of the viruses and their relatedness to previously circulating H3N2 human viruses.

Emergence of influenza viruses from the animal reservoir is a permanent challenge. The rapid description and immediate sharing of information on these viruses is invaluable for influenza surveillance networks and for pandemic preparedness. With the help of data generated from the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we provide here information on the swine–origin triple reassortant influenza A(H3N2) viruses detected in human cases in the north-east of the United States.