Epidemiology and Surveillance of Influenza Viruses in Uganda between 2008 and 2014
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS ONE
Abstract
Influenza surveillance was conducted in Uganda from October 2008 to December 2014 to
identify and understand the epidemiology of circulating influenza strains in out-patient clinic
attendees with influenza-like illness and inform control strategies.
Methodology
Surveillance was conducted at five hospital-based sentinel sites. Nasopharyngeal and/or
oropharyngeal samples, epidemiological and clinical data were collected from enrolled
patients. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed
to identify and subtype influenza strains. Data were double-entered into an Epi Info
3.5.3 database and exported to STATA 13.0 software for analysis.
Results
Of the 6,628 patient samples tested, influenza virus infection was detected in 10.4% (n = 687/
6,628) of the specimens. Several trends were observed: influenza circulates throughout the
year with two peaks; the major one from September to November and a minor one from
March to June. The predominant strains of influenza varied over the years: Seasonal Influenza
A(H3) virus was predominant from 2008 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2014; Influenza A
(H1N1)pdm01 was dominant in 2010; and Influenza B virus was dominant in 2011. The peaks
generally coincided with times of higher humidity, lower temperature, and higher rainfall.
Conclusion
Influenza circulated throughout the year in Uganda with two major peaks of outbreaks with
similar strains circulating elsewhere in the region. Data on the circulating strains of influenza
and its patterns of occurrence provided critical insights to informing the design and timing of influenza vaccines for influenza prevention in tropical regions of sub-Saharan
Africa.
Description
Keywords
Epidemiology, Surveillance, Influenza Viruses, Uganda
Citation
Wabwire-Mangen F, Mimbe DE, Erima B, Mworozi EA, Millard M, Kibuuka H, et al. (2016) Epidemiology and Surveillance of Influenza Viruses in Uganda between 2008 and 2014. PLoS ONE 11 (10): e0164861. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0164861