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Abstract Background An unprecedented high proportion of oseltamivir resistant influenza A(H1N1) viruses emerged in the 2007–08 influenza season. In Norway, two thirds of all tested A(H1N1) viruses were resistant to the antiviral drug. In order to see if this emergence could be explained by a drug induced selection pressure, we analysed data on the sales of oseltamivir in Norway for the years 2002–07. Methods We used data from two sources; the Norwegian Drug Wholesales Statistics Database and the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD), for the years 2002–2007. We calculated courses sold of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) per 1000 inhabitants per year. Results Our data showed that, except for the years 2005 and 2006, sales of oseltamivir were low in Norway; courses sold per 1000 inhabitants varied between 0.17–1.64. The higher sales in 2005 and 2006 we believe were caused by private stockpiling in fear of a pandemic, and do not represent actual usage. Conclusion A drug induced selection pressure was probably not the cause of the emergence of oseltamivir resistant influenza A(H1N1) viruses in 2007–08 in Norway.

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a healthy adult population from Sogn and Fjordane county in western Norway. Sera from 1, 213 blood donors were analysed for IgG-antibodies to TBEV, and a random subgroup of 301 donors for IgG to A. phagocytophilum. In the TBEV ELISA, five (0.4%) sera were positive. These were all interpreted as "false" positives, as four had received vaccines against flaviviruses, and the remaining was negative for neutralizing antibodies to TBEV. Antibodies to A. phagocytophilum were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 49 (16.2%) subjects (titer range 80-1280). The results indicate that TBE currently is not endemic in this part of western Norway. However, there is serological evidence of the existence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first influenza pandemic of the 21st century was caused by novel H1N1 viruses that emerged in early 2009. Molecular evolutionary analyses of the 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 [A(H1N1)pdm09] virus revealed two major clusters, cluster I and cluster II. Although the pathogenicity of viruses belonging to cluster I, which became extinct by the end of 2009, has been examined in a nonhuman primate model, the pathogenic potential of viruses belonging to cluster II, which has spread more widely in the world, has not been studied in this animal model. Here, we characterized two Norwegian isolates belonging to cluster II, namely, A/Norway/3568/2009 (Norway3568) and A/Norway/3487-2/2009 (Norway3487), which caused distinct clinical symptoms, despite their genetic similarity. We observed more efficient replication in cultured cells and delayed virus clearance from ferret respiratory organs for Norway3487 virus, which was isolated from a severe case, compared with the efficiency of replication and time of clearance of Norway3568 virus, which was isolated from a mild case. Moreover, Norway3487 virus to some extent caused more severe lung damage in nonhuman primates than did Norway3568 virus. Our data suggest that the distinct replicative and pathogenic potentials of these two viruses may result from differences in their biological properties (e.g., the receptor-binding specificity of hemagglutinin and viral polymerase activity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eu) and louping-ill virus (LIV) are two closely related tick-borne flaviviruses. However, whereas the first is the cause of one of Europe's most important zoonoses, the latter most often only causes disease in sheep and grouse. TBEV-Eu is typically found in the forests of central and northeastern Europe, and LIV typically is found in sheep pastures in the British Isles. In the 1980s, however, LIV was isolated from sheep with encephalomyelitis in Norway. In the 1990s, the first cases of human TBEV were also detected in this country, but while Louping-ill in sheep is very rare, the number of human TBEV cases is increasing. No larger investigations of TBEV and/or LIV seroprevalence and distribution in Norway have been published. However, before such studies are initiated, it is pertinent to know if LIV and TBEV are potentially co-circulating. In the current study, we examined if antibodies against LIV and TBEV were found in wild cervids in one location (Farsund) in southern and one location (Molde) in northwestern Norway using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of anti-TBEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and a hemagglutination inhibition test for anti-LIV IgG. Positive results were confirmed by serum neutralization tests. In Farsund, 22 of 54 cervids had antibodies against TBEV and 8 antibodies against LIV. In Molde, 1 of 64 cervids was confirmed positive for TBEV, whereas none were positive for LIV. This shows that TBEV and LIV may co-circulate in southern Norway and that virus(es) antigenetically very similar to TBEV may be found in northwestern Norway. The latter is intriguing, because the climatic conditions typical of TBEV locations should not be expected this far north.

Background: At its discovery in 1981, AIDS was a fatal syndrome that rapidly led to death. Combination treatment with at least three drugs has radically improved the prognosis., Material and Methods: The study includes all HIV-patients controlled at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Ullevål University Hospital from 1982 to 2005. Development of immune deficiency, morbidity and causes of death were registered prospectively. Possible connections between death and HIV-infection and treatment were evaluated., Results: 1632 patients were followed at our department. 32 % of these patients have died. The number of patients who died annually during the 5 years from 1986 to 1990 was 47 % and this was reduced to 11 % in 2001 - 05. Many patients still die because they either present too late for treatment or have received insufficient treatment. 22 patients have died during the last 10 years irrespective of starting treatment with at least 3 antiretroviral drugs: 7 died from cancers, 6 from treatment failure, one from unknown cause and 8 from other causes. The 6 patients who died from treatment failure had very low CD4 counts and serious opportunistic infections that could not be treated effectively at the time of diagnosis., Interpretation: Patients who start and adhere to treatment with 3 HIV-medications have a good prognosis, but they may still have an increased risk of non-AIDS defining cancers and cardiovascular disease. HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease with a good prognosis.