The results of study of the specific features of influenza virus circulation in 2013-2014 in 10 cities of Russia were presented. The results were obtained in basic laboratories of the Center for Ecology and Epidemiology of Influenza, D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, FSBI «N.F. Gamaleya FRCE M» Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The increasing rate of the ARD morbidity was detected during week 9 with further decrease in the morbidity rate till threshold levels reached during week 13. Children 0-2 years old and 3-6 years old were the most involved age group, while the highest rate of hospitalization was found in the age group of 15-64 years old (66%). The influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses were the cause of the epidemic, but their activity differed over regions of Russia. The results of study of the antigenic and genetic properties of influenza strains showed for the most of them a close relation to the vaccine strains. Certain heterogeneity of circulating strains and their drift variants was found as well. All the tested strains were sensitive to the oseltamivir and zanamivir, while preserving resistance to the rimantadine. The ratio of the AR D viruses was comparable with the last epidemic seasons.

The peculiarities of the influenza viruses circulation in 2012-2013 are discussed. The results were obtained in 10 cities of Russia, where basic laboratories of the Influenza Ecology and Epidemics Center of on the basis of Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, are situated. The increasing rate of the ARD morbidity caused by influenza viruses was observed in January-March 2013. The highest indices of the morbidity were detected during 6-7 weeks with the following decreasing rate till threshold levels to week 14. The influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, A (H3N2), and B viruses were the cause of the epidemic, but their activity differed over areas of Russia. The results of study of the antigenic and genetic properties of the influenza strains demonstrated closed relatives with respect to vaccine strains. In addition, some heterogeneity of the circulating strains and their drift variants were found as well. All tested strains were sensitive to oseltamivir (excluding one A (H1N1) pdm09 strain), zanamivir, arbidol, and remained resistant to rimantadine. The ratio of the ARD viruses was comparable with the last epidemic seasons.

The goal of this work was to compare the efficiency of the influenza A and B viruses isolated during 2010-2011 epidemic season. The clinical samples were taken in the test tubes with the transport medium on the basis of the medium EMEM and commercial test tubes Σ-Virocult® (M40 Compliant, Sigma Virocult) and Virocult® (M40 Compliant, Virocult). The results of this work demonstrated higher efficiency of influenza A and B viruses isolation from nasopharyngeal swabs of the patients taken in the test tubes Σ-Virocult® (M40 Compliant, Sigma Virocult) and Virocult® (M40 Compliant, Virocult) with the transport medium as compared with the efficiency of influenza strains isolation from nasopharyngeal swabs taken in test tubes with the medium EMEM with respect to all estimated indicators: efficiency of isolation, a passage of isolation and the titer of isolates. The possibility of the long-term storage of a clinical material at room temperature and at 4оС was confirmed, without resorting to freezing, which is significant in the absence of the necessary equipment.

The goal of this work was to compare the efficiency of the influenza A and B viruses Isolated during 2010-2011 epidemic season. The clinical samples were taken in the test tubes with the transport medium on the.basis of the medium EMEM and commercial test tubes Sigma-Virocult (M40 Compliant, Sigma Virocult) and Virocult (M40 Compliant, Virocult). The results of this work demonstrated higher efficiency of influenza A and B viruses isolation from nasopharyngeal swabs of the patients taken in the test tubes Sigma-Virocult (M40 Compliant, Sigma Virocult) and Virocult (M40 Compliant, Virocult) with the transport medium as compared with the efficiency of influenza strains isolation from nasopharyngeal swabs taken in test tubes with the medium EMEM with respect to all estimated indicators: efficiency of isolation, a passage of isolation and the titer of isolates. The possibility of the long-term storage of a clinical material at room temperature and at 4 degrees C was confirmed, without resorting to freezing, which is significant in the absence of the necessary equipment.

The results of analysis of the peculiarities of the epidemic 2011-2012 development in the areas of 10 cities of Russia obtained by basic laboratories of IEES on the base of D.I. Ivanovsky Research Institute of Virology, Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia, are presented. The increasing ARD morbidity caused by the influenza viruses was detected rather late--in February-March 2012. The highest indices of the morbidity were detected during weeks 10-13 followed by decreasing to threshold levels by week 27. Children 0-2 and 3-6 years old were involved the most, meantime the high rate of hospitalization was found for 15-64 years old aged group (25%). Influenza A(H3N2) and B viruses were the cause of the epidemic. The results of studies of the antigenic and genetic properties of the influenza strains showed most of them to be close relatives to the vaccine strains. Some heterogeneity of circulating strains and their drift variants were found as well. All tested strains were sensitive to arbidol, oseltamivir and zanamivir, and saved resistance to rimantadine. The ratio of ARD viruses was comparable with the last epidemic seasons.

The paper gives the results of monitoring the circulation of influenza viruses in the 2010-2011 season, that covers the second year of circulation of pandemic A(H1N1)v virus strains, and their interaction with seasonal A (H3N2) and B strains. Unlike the previous season, the beginning of an increase in morbidity was recorded in January 2011; its peak in the most of contiguous areas was noted at 5-7 weeks of 2011, with its further decline to threshold levels at week 11 of 2011. Preschool and school children were most involved in the epidemic process. Three influenza virus strains (A(H1N1)v, A(H3N2), and B) were found to circulate. Differences were found in the level of participation of the isolated strains in individual areas of the Russian Federation. Detailed typing of the isolated strains determined the compliance of the vast majority of them with vaccine viruses. The pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v virus strains retained their susceptibility to oseltamivir and were resistant to rimantadine. The participation of non-influenza acute respiratory viral infection pathogens was estimated as follows: 11.9% for parainfluenza viruses, 5.9% for adenoviruses, and 3.5% for PC viruses, and 0.7% for pneumonia Mycoplasma, which was comparable with the previous epidemic seasons.

The paper gives the results of monitoring the circulation of influenza viruses in the 2010-2011 season, that covers the second year of circulation of pandemic A(H1N1)v virus strains, and their interaction with seasonal A (H3N2) and B strains. Unlike the previous season, the beginning of an increase in morbidity was recorded in January 2011; its peak in the most of contiguous areas was noted at 5-7 weeks of 2011, with its further decline to threshold levels at week 11 of 2011. Preschool and school children were most involved in the epidemic process. Three influenza virus strains (A(H1N1)v, A(H3N2), and B) were found to circulate. Differences were found in the level of participation of the isolated strains in individual areas of the Russian Federation. Detailed typing of the isolated strains determined the compliance of the vast majority of them with vaccine viruses. The pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v virus strains retained their susceptibility to oseltamivir and were resistant to rimantadine. The participation of non-influenza acute respiratory viral infection pathogens was estimated as follows: 11.9% for parainfluenza viruses, 5.9% for adenoviruses, and 3.5% for PC viruses, and 0.7% for pneumonia Mycoplasma, which was comparable with the previous epidemic seasons.