Abstract
ASSESSMENT OF PANDEMIC HINI (2010-2011) IN NORTHERN INDIAN REGION BY MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION

H1N1 subtype influenza A virus, an outcome from reassortment between two circulating swine influenza strains, which began circulating at the end of the 2008-2009 influenza season in the northern hemisphere, distinguishing it from other influenza A viruses, especially the circulating human H1N1 viruses, is crucial not only for pandemic planning, containment and surveillance but also for proper prognosis and treatment. Current study includes the assessment of Pandemic HINI in between 2010 to 2011, in a post pandemic session in Northern Indian region by Molecular Characterization of influenza A, Swine influenza, Swine HINI and RnaseP genes. 324 specimens were processed by Real Time PCR where 8 (2.46%) were positive for HINI with 316 (97.53%) as negative. Seasonal flu infection was found in 31 (9.57%) cases. Out of 176 male and 148 female 5(2.84%) and 3(2.03%) was the positivity rates respectively for HINI, whereas 17(9.65%) and 14(9.45%) were the positivity rates for the same when characterized for only seasonal Influenza infection. Such studies will not only be helping clinicians for the proper treatment and follow up of the patients which are of utmost clinical significance to initiate the antiviral therapy but also responsible for the preparation of the strategies, programs for the post pandemic duration of such highly infectious diseases. The cases turning positive will be very helpful not for the patients treatment but will predict and avoid the spreading of this fatal virus in the community.