Evolution and Antigenic Drift of Influenza A (H7N9) Viruses, China, 2017–2019

Abstract

After a sharp decrease of influenza A(H7N9) virus in China in 2018, highly pathogenic H7N9 viruses re-emerged in 2019. These H7N9 variants exhibited a new predominant subclade and had been cocirculating at a low level in eastern and northeastern China. Several immune escape mutations and antigenic drift were observed in H7N9 variants.

Keywords

• evolution
• H7N9 viruses
• antigenic drift
• influenza virus
• high pathogenicity
• low pathogenicity