Cross-immunity and age patterns of influenza A(H5N1) infection

The age distribution of influenza A(H5N1) cases reported during 2006–2013 varied substantially between countries. As well as underlying demographic profiles, it is possible that cross-immunity contributed to the age distribution of reported cases: seasonal influenza A(H1N1) and avian influenza A(H5N...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2015-04, Vol.143 (6), p.1119-1124
Main Authors: KUCHARSKI, A. J., EDMUNDS, W. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Age groups
Aged
Avian flu
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross Reactions - immunology
Demography
Global Health
Humans
Infections
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - immunology
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - immunology
Influenza, Human - epidemiology
Influenza, Human - immunology
Influenza, Human - virology
Middle Aged
Original Papers
Respiratory Viruses
Risk Factors
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The age distribution of influenza A(H5N1) cases reported during 2006–2013 varied substantially between countries. As well as underlying demographic profiles, it is possible that cross-immunity contributed to the age distribution of reported cases: seasonal influenza A(H1N1) and avian influenza A(H5N1) share the same neuraminidase subtype, N1. Using a mechanistic model, we measured the extent to which population age distribution and heterosubtypic cross-immunity could explain the observed age patterns in Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam. Our results support experimental evidence that prior infection with H1N1 confers partial cross-immunity to H5N1, and suggest that more than 50% of spillover events did not lead to reported cases of infection as a result. We also identified age groups that have additional risk factors for influenza A(H5N1) not captured by demography or infection history.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268814001976