TY - JOUR
T1 - Virological surveillance of influenza-like illness among children in Ghana, 2008-2010
AU - Bonney, Joseph H.K.
AU - Kronmann, Karl C.
AU - Lindan, Christina P.
AU - Asante, Ivy A.
AU - Parbie, Prince
AU - Aboagye, James
AU - Amankwah, Joseph
AU - Odoom, John Kofi
AU - Adjabeng, Michael
AU - Nzussouo, Ndahwouh Talla
AU - Ahadzie, Lawson
AU - Barthel, Robert Vince
AU - Cornelius, Clair
AU - Amofah, George
AU - Oyofo, Buhari
AU - Ampofo, William K.
PY - 2012/12/15
Y1 - 2012/12/15
N2 - Background The global annual attack rate for influenza is estimated to be 10%-20% in children, although limited information exists for Africa. In 2007, Ghana initiated influenza surveillance by routine monitoring of acute respiratory illness to obtain data on circulating strains. We describe influenza surveillance in children <11 years old who had influenza-like illness (ILI) from January 2008 to December 2010.Methods Oropharyngeal swabs from pediatric outpatients with ILI attending any of 22 health facilities across the country were submitted. We tested swabs for influenza virus using molecular assays, virus isolation, and hemagglutination assays.Results Of the 2810 swabs, 636 (23%) were positive for influenza virus. The percentage of positives by gender was similar. The proportion of ILI cases positive for influenza increased with age from 11% (31/275) in infants (aged 0-1 years) to 31% (377/1219) among children aged 5-10 years (P <. 001). The majority of cases were influenza A (90%), of which 60% were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In all 3 years, influenza activity appeared slightly higher during May through July.Conclusions During the 3 years of influenza surveillance in Ghana, children aged <11 years bore a high burden of influenza-associated ILI.
AB - Background The global annual attack rate for influenza is estimated to be 10%-20% in children, although limited information exists for Africa. In 2007, Ghana initiated influenza surveillance by routine monitoring of acute respiratory illness to obtain data on circulating strains. We describe influenza surveillance in children <11 years old who had influenza-like illness (ILI) from January 2008 to December 2010.Methods Oropharyngeal swabs from pediatric outpatients with ILI attending any of 22 health facilities across the country were submitted. We tested swabs for influenza virus using molecular assays, virus isolation, and hemagglutination assays.Results Of the 2810 swabs, 636 (23%) were positive for influenza virus. The percentage of positives by gender was similar. The proportion of ILI cases positive for influenza increased with age from 11% (31/275) in infants (aged 0-1 years) to 31% (377/1219) among children aged 5-10 years (P <. 001). The majority of cases were influenza A (90%), of which 60% were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In all 3 years, influenza activity appeared slightly higher during May through July.Conclusions During the 3 years of influenza surveillance in Ghana, children aged <11 years bore a high burden of influenza-associated ILI.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870034029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/infdis/jis577
DO - 10.1093/infdis/jis577
M3 - Article
C2 - 23169955
AN - SCOPUS:84870034029
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 206
SP - S108-S113
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - SUPPL.1
ER -