Until 2020, two distinct lineages of influenza B virus co-circulated in humans. Known as B/Yamagata and B/Victoria, these lineages are distinguished by differences in the antigenic structure of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) and their varying abilities to elicit innate immune responses in the host.[10]
However, the B/Yamagata lineage may have become extinct in 2020/2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic measures.[11] In October 2023, the World Health Organization concluded that protection against the Yamagata lineage was no longer necessary in the seasonal flu vaccine, reducing the number of lineages targeted by the vaccine from four to three.[12][13] For the 2024–2025 Northern Hemisphere influenza season, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends removing B/Yamagata from all influenza vaccines.[14] The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends removing B/Yamagata from influenza vaccines for the 2024–2025 seasonal flu vaccine composition.[15]
^Matsuzaki Y, Sugawara K, Takashita E, Muraki Y, Hongo S, Katsushima N, et al. (September 2004). "Genetic diversity of influenza B virus: the frequent reassortment and cocirculation of the genetically distinct reassortant viruses in a community". Journal of Medical Virology. 74 (1): 132–140. doi:10.1002/jmv.20156. PMID15258979. S2CID31146117.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: overridden setting (link)
^van de Sandt CE, Bodewes R, Rimmelzwaan GF, de Vries RD (September 2015). "Influenza B viruses: not to be discounted". Future Microbiology. 10 (9): 1447–1465. doi:10.2217/fmb.15.65. PMID26357957.