Influenza Dynamics from Pre-pandemic to Post-pandemic Periods: Epidemiology and Genetic Characteristics
type: CreativeWork
description: Influenza remains a major global public health concern, causing annual epidemics and potentially instigating pandemics. Despite available seasonal vaccines, influenza still causes significant mortality and morbidity in Australia, particularly among vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health measures significantly impacted the circulation of many respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses. While previous studies have examined broader trends of various respiratory viruses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, research on influenza epidemiology and evolution in Australia spanning the pre- to post-pandemic periods remains limited. This PhD research aims to conduct comprehensive epidemiological and genomic analyses to elucidate changes in influenza epidemiology and viral evolution during this critical period, providing important insights for public health responses. Analysis of local diagnostic PCR data from two major metropolitan health districts found a near-absence of influenza viruses between April 2020 and 2021, followed by a resurgence of cases in 2022 (Chapter 2). Notably, peak influenza activity in 2022 and 2023 occurred earlier compared to most pre-pandemic years, underscoring the importance of continued surveillance to determine whether this represents a temporary phenomenon or a sustained alteration in influenza activity. Utilizing a developed high-throughput whole genome sequencing (WGS) protocol, complete genomes of influenza A and B viruses (IAVs and IBVs) circulating during the 2019 season were obtained (Chapter 3). Analysis of these genomes revealed the genetic diversity and evolution of influenza viruses during the period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and identified potential amino acid substitutions associated with genotypic antiviral drug susceptibility and increased virulence. This provided reference information for genomic analysis of influenza viruses during the resurgence of cases in 2022 (Chapter 4). Chapter 4 in…
abstract: Influenza remains a major global public health concern, causing annual epidemics and potentially instigating pandemics. Despite available seasonal vaccines, influenza still causes significant mortality and morbidity in Australia, particularly among vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health measures significantly impacted the circulation of many respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses. While previous studies have examined broader trends of various respiratory viruses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, research on influenza epidemiology and evolution in Australia spanning the pre- to post-pandemic periods remains limited. This PhD research aims to conduct comprehensive epidemiological and genomic analyses to elucidate changes in influenza epidemiology and viral evolution during this critical period, providing important insights for public health responses. Analysis of local diagnostic PCR data from two major metropolitan health districts found a near-absence of influenza viruses between April 2020 and 2021, followed by a resurgence of cases in 2022 (Chapter 2). Notably, peak influenza activity in 2022 and 2023 occurred earlier compared to most pre-pandemic years, underscoring the importance of continued surveillance to determine whether this represents a temporary phenomenon or a sustained alteration in influenza activity. Utilizing a developed high-throughput whole genome sequencing (WGS) protocol, complete genomes of influenza A and B viruses (IAVs and IBVs) circulating during the 2019 season were obtained (Chapter 3). Analysis of these genomes revealed the genetic diversity and evolution of influenza viruses during the period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and identified potential amino acid substitutions associated with genotypic antiviral drug susceptibility and increased virulence. This provided reference information for genomic analysis of influenza viruses during the resurgence of cases in 2022 (Chapter 4). Chapter 4 in…
author: Wang, Emma
language: en
keywords: Influenza, High-throughput sequencing, Phylogeography, anzsrc-for: 320705 Medical virology
license: https://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date published: 2025
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:32:14Z
provider: University of New South Wales
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: UNSW, Sydney

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/104326

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.26190/unsworks/30949