Influenza a(H3n2) virus variants and patient characteristics during a summer influenza epidemic in Taiwan, 2017

Abstract

We report a summer influenza epidemic caused by co-circulation of multiple influenza A(H3N2) variants in clade 3C.2a. Compared with other clades, a putative clade 3C.2a.3a was more commonly isolated from severely ill patients; 3C.2a.4 was more commonly isolated in outbreak cases. Time from vaccination to illness onset was significantly shorter in severely ill patients infected with clade 3C.2a.3; characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with different clades were similar. No resistance to antiviral medications was found.