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Owusu D, Ndegwa LK, Ayugi J, Kinuthia P, Kalani R, Okeyo M, Otieno NA, Kikwai G, Juma B, Munyua P, Kuria F, Okunga E, Moen AC, Emukule GO. Use of Sentinel Surveillance Platforms for Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Activity: Evidence From Analysis of Kenya Influenza Sentinel Surveillance Data. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e50799. [PMID: 38526537 PMCID: PMC11002741 DOI: 10.2196/50799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the cocirculation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of respiratory disease sentinel surveillance platforms for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 activity in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe influenza and SARS-CoV-2 cocirculation in Kenya and how the SARS-CoV-2 data from influenza sentinel surveillance correlated with that of universal national surveillance. METHODS From April 2020 to March 2022, we enrolled 7349 patients with severe acute respiratory illness or influenza-like illness at 8 sentinel influenza surveillance sites in Kenya and collected demographic, clinical, underlying medical condition, vaccination, and exposure information, as well as respiratory specimens, from them. Respiratory specimens were tested for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The universal national-level SARS-CoV-2 data were also obtained from the Kenya Ministry of Health. The universal national-level SARS-CoV-2 data were collected from all health facilities nationally, border entry points, and contact tracing in Kenya. Epidemic curves and Pearson r were used to describe the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 positivity in data from the 8 influenza sentinel sites in Kenya and that of the universal national SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between influenza and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection with severe clinical illness. We defined severe clinical illness as any of oxygen saturation <90%, in-hospital death, admission to intensive care unit or high dependence unit, mechanical ventilation, or a report of any danger sign (ie, inability to drink or eat, severe vomiting, grunting, stridor, or unconsciousness in children younger than 5 years) among patients with severe acute respiratory illness. RESULTS Of the 7349 patients from the influenza sentinel surveillance sites, 76.3% (n=5606) were younger than 5 years. We detected any influenza (A or B) in 8.7% (629/7224), SARS-CoV-2 in 10.7% (768/7199), and coinfection in 0.9% (63/7165) of samples tested. Although the number of samples tested for SARS-CoV-2 from the sentinel surveillance was only 0.2% (60 per week vs 36,000 per week) of the number tested in the universal national surveillance, SARS-CoV-2 positivity in the sentinel surveillance data significantly correlated with that of the universal national surveillance (Pearson r=0.58; P<.001). The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of clinical severe illness among participants with coinfection were similar to those of patients with influenza only (aOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.47-1.79) and SARS-CoV-2 only (aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.47-1.82). CONCLUSIONS Influenza substantially cocirculated with SARS-CoV-2 in Kenya. We found a significant correlation of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in the data from 8 influenza sentinel surveillance sites with that of the universal national SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data. Our findings indicate that the influenza sentinel surveillance system can be used as a sustainable platform for monitoring respiratory pathogens of pandemic potential or public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Owusu
- Influenza Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Linus K Ndegwa
- Global Influenza Branch, Influenza Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jorim Ayugi
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Rosalia Kalani
- Disease Surveillance and Response Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mary Okeyo
- National Influenza Centre Laboratory, National Public Health Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nancy A Otieno
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Gilbert Kikwai
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Bonventure Juma
- Global Influenza Branch, Influenza Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peninah Munyua
- Global Influenza Branch, Influenza Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Francis Kuria
- Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Emmanuel Okunga
- Disease Surveillance and Response Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ann C Moen
- Influenza Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Gideon O Emukule
- Global Influenza Branch, Influenza Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
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Owuor DC, de Laurent ZR, Nyawanda BO, Emukule GO, Kondor R, Barnes JR, Nokes DJ, Agoti CN, Chaves SS. Genetic and potential antigenic evolution of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses circulating in Kenya during 2009-2018 influenza seasons. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22342. [PMID: 38102198 PMCID: PMC10724140 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49157-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses undergo rapid evolutionary changes, which requires continuous surveillance to monitor for genetic and potential antigenic changes in circulating viruses that can guide control and prevention decision making. We sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed A(H1N1)pdm09 virus genome sequences obtained from specimens collected from hospitalized patients of all ages with or without pneumonia between 2009 and 2018 from seven sentinel surveillance sites across Kenya. We compared these sequences with recommended vaccine strains during the study period to infer genetic and potential antigenic changes in circulating viruses and associations of clinical outcome. We generated and analyzed a total of 383 A(H1N1)pdm09 virus genome sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of HA protein revealed that multiple genetic groups (clades, subclades, and subgroups) of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus circulated in Kenya over the study period; these evolved away from their vaccine strain, forming clades 7 and 6, subclades 6C, 6B, and 6B.1, and subgroups 6B.1A and 6B.1A1 through acquisition of additional substitutions. Several amino acid substitutions among circulating viruses were associated with continued evolution of the viruses, especially in antigenic epitopes and receptor binding sites (RBS) of circulating viruses. Disease severity declined with an increase in age among children aged < 5 years. Our study highlights the necessity of timely genomic surveillance to monitor the evolutionary changes of influenza viruses. Routine influenza surveillance with broad geographic representation and whole genome sequencing capacity to inform on prioritization of antigenic analysis and the severity of circulating strains are critical to improved selection of influenza strains for inclusion in vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Collins Owuor
- Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
| | - Zaydah R de Laurent
- Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Gideon O Emukule
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rebecca Kondor
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - John R Barnes
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - D James Nokes
- Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- School of Life Sciences and Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Charles N Agoti
- Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- School of Public Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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3
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Emukule GO, Osoro E, Nyawanda BO, Ngere I, Macharia D, Bigogo G, Otieno NA, Chaves SS, Njenga MK, Widdowson MA. Healthcare-seeking behavior for respiratory illnesses in Kenya: implications for burden of disease estimation. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:353. [PMID: 36797727 PMCID: PMC9936639 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15252-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding healthcare-seeking patterns for respiratory illness can help improve estimation of disease burden and target public health interventions to control acute respiratory disease in Kenya. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine healthcare utilization patterns for acute respiratory illness (ARI) and severe pneumonia in four diverse counties representing urban, peri-urban, rural mixed farmers, and rural pastoralist communities in Kenya using a two-stage (sub-locations then households) cluster sampling procedure. Healthcare seeking behavior for ARI episodes in the last 14 days, and severe pneumonia in the last 12 months was evaluated. Severe pneumonia was defined as reported cough and difficulty breathing for > 2 days and report of hospitalization or recommendation for hospitalization, or a danger sign (unable to breastfeed/drink, vomiting everything, convulsions, unconscious) for children < 5 years, or report of inability to perform routine chores. RESULTS From August through September 2018, we interviewed 28,072 individuals from 5,407 households. Of those surveyed, 9.2% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 7.9-10.7) reported an episode of ARI, and 4.2% (95% CI 3.8-4.6) reported an episode of severe pneumonia. Of the reported ARI cases, 40.0% (95% CI 36.8-43.3) sought care at a health facility. Of the74.2% (95% CI 70.2-77.9) who reported severe pneumonia and visited a medical health facility, 28.9% (95% CI 25.6-32.6) were hospitalized and 7.0% (95% CI 5.4-9.1) were referred by a clinician to the hospital but not hospitalized. 21% (95% CI 18.2-23.6) of self-reported severe pneumonias were hospitalized. Children aged < 5 years and persons in households with a higher socio-economic status were more likely to seek care for respiratory illness at a health facility. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that hospital-based surveillance captures less than one quarter of severe pneumonia in the community. Multipliers from community household surveys can account for underutilization of healthcare resources and under-ascertainment of severe pneumonia at hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon O Emukule
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, KEMRI Headquarters, Mbagathi Rd, Off Mbagathi Way, Village Market, P.O Box 606, Nairobi, 00621, Kenya.
| | - Eric Osoro
- Washington State University Global Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Isaac Ngere
- Washington State University Global Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daniel Macharia
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, KEMRI Headquarters, Mbagathi Rd, Off Mbagathi Way, Village Market, P.O Box 606, Nairobi, 00621, Kenya
| | | | | | - Sandra S Chaves
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, KEMRI Headquarters, Mbagathi Rd, Off Mbagathi Way, Village Market, P.O Box 606, Nairobi, 00621, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, KEMRI Headquarters, Mbagathi Rd, Off Mbagathi Way, Village Market, P.O Box 606, Nairobi, 00621, Kenya
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Kelly ME, Gharpure R, Shivji S, Matonya M, Moshi S, Mwafulango A, Mwalongo V, Mghamba J, Simba A, Balajee SA, Gatei W, Mponela M, Saguti G, Whistler T, Moremi N, Mmbaga V. Etiologies of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections in Tanzania, 2017-2019. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0000906. [PMID: 36962965 PMCID: PMC10021583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
In 2016, Tanzania expanded sentinel surveillance for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to include testing for non-influenza respiratory viruses (NIRVs) and additional respiratory pathogens at 9 sentinel sites. During 2017-2019, respiratory specimens from 2730 cases underwent expanded testing: 2475 specimens (90.7%) were tested using a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-developed assay covering 7 NIRVs (respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus 1, 2, and 3) and influenza A and B viruses. Additionally, 255 specimens (9.3%) were tested using the Fast-Track Diagnostics Respiratory Pathogens 33 (FTD-33) kit which covered the mentioned viruses and additional viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Influenza viruses were identified in 7.5% of all specimens; however, use of the CDC assay and FTD-33 kit increased the number of specimens with a pathogen identified to 61.8% and 91.5%, respectively. Among the 9 common viruses between the CDC assay and FTD-33 kit, the most identified pathogens were RSV (22.9%), rhinovirus (21.8%), and adenovirus (14.0%); multi-pathogen co-detections were common. Odds of hospitalization (SARI vs. ILI) varied by sex, age, geographic zone, year of diagnosis, and pathogen identified; hospitalized illnesses were most common among children under the age of 5 years. The greatest number of specimens were submitted for testing during December-April, coinciding with rainy seasons in Tanzania, and several viral pathogens demonstrated seasonal variation (RSV, human metapneumovirus, influenza A and B, and parainfluenza viruses). This study demonstrates that expanding an existing influenza platform to include additional respiratory pathogens can provide valuable insight into the etiology, incidence, severity, and geographic/temporal patterns of respiratory illness. Continued respiratory surveillance in Tanzania, and globally, can provide valuable data, particularly in the context of emerging respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, and guide public health interventions to reduce the burden of respiratory illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Radhika Gharpure
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sabrina Shivji
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Azma Simba
- Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - S. Arunmozhi Balajee
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wangeci Gatei
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Marcelina Mponela
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Grace Saguti
- World Health Organization, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Toni Whistler
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Herman-Roloff A, Aman R, Samandari T, Kasera K, Emukule GO, Amoth P, Chen TH, Kisivuli J, Weyenga H, Hunsperger E, Onyango C, Juma B, Munyua P, Wako D, Akelo V, Kimanga D, Ndegwa L, Mohamed AA, Okello P, Kariuki S, De Cock KM, Bulterys M. Adapting Longstanding Public Health Collaborations between Government of Kenya and CDC Kenya in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2021. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:S159-S167. [PMID: 36502403 DOI: 10.3201/eid2813.211550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kenya's Ministry of Health (MOH) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Kenya (CDC Kenya) have maintained a 40-year partnership during which measures were implemented to prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MOH and CDC Kenya rapidly responded to mitigate disease impact on Kenya's 52 million residents. We describe activities undertaken jointly by the MOH and CDC Kenya that lessened the effects of COVID-19 during 5 epidemic waves from March through December 2021. Activities included establishing national and county-level emergency operations centers and implementing workforce development and deployment, infection prevention and control training, laboratory diagnostic advancement, enhanced surveillance, and information management. The COVID-19 pandemic provided fresh impetus for the government of Kenya to establish a national public health institute, launched in January 2022, to consolidate its public health activities and counter COVID-19 and future infectious, vaccine-preventable, and emerging zoonotic diseases.
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Murunga N, Nyawanda B, Nyiro JU, Otieno GP, Kamau E, Agoti CN, Lewa C, Gichuki A, Mutunga M, Otieno N, Mayieka L, Ochieng M, Kikwai G, Hunsperger E, Onyango C, Emukule G, Bigogo G, Verani JR, Chaves SS, Nokes DJ, Munywoki PK. Surveillance of respiratory viruses at health facilities from across Kenya, 2014. Wellcome Open Res 2022. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17908.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. With (re)emergence of novel viruses and increased access to childhood bacterial vaccines, viruses have assumed greater importance in the aetiology of ARI. There are now promising candidate vaccines against some of the most common endemic respiratory viruses. Optimal delivery strategies for these vaccines, and the need for interventions against other respiratory viruses, requires geographically diverse data capturing temporal variations in virus circulation. Methods: We leveraged three health facility-based respiratory illness surveillance platforms operating in 11 sites across Kenya. Nasopharyngeal (NP) and/or oropharyngeal (OP) specimens, patient demographic, and clinical characteristics were collected in 2014 from individuals of various ages presenting with respiratory symptoms at the surveillance facilities. Real time multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, human coronaviruses (hCoV), and adenoviruses. Results: From 11 sites, 5451 NP/OP specimens were collected and tested from patients. Of these, 40.2% were positive for at least one of the targeted respiratory viruses. The most frequently detected were rhinoviruses (17.0%) and RSV A/B (10.5%), followed by influenza A (6.2%), adenovirus (6.0%) and hCoV (4.2%). RSV was most prevalent among infants aged <12 months old (18.9%), adenovirus among children aged 12–23 months old (11.0%), influenza A among children aged 24–59 months (9.3%), and rhinovirus across all age groups (range, 12.7–19.0%). The overall percent virus positivity varied by surveillance site, health facility type and case definition used in surveillance. Conclusions: We identify rhinoviruses, RSV, and influenza A as the most prevalent respiratory viruses. Higher RSV positivity in inpatient settings compared to outpatient clinics strengthen the case for RSV vaccination. To inform the design and delivery of public health interventions, long-term surveillance is required to establish regional heterogeneities in respiratory virus circulation and seasonality.
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Characterization of influenza infection in a high-income urban setting in Nairobi, Kenya. Trop Med Health 2022; 50:69. [PMID: 36114561 PMCID: PMC9479273 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-022-00463-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza viruses are an important cause of respiratory infections across all age groups. Information on occurrence and magnitude of influenza virus infections in different populations in Kenya however remains scanty, compromising estimation of influenza disease burden. This study examined influenza infection in an urban high-income setting in Nairobi to establish its prevalence and activity of influenza viruses, and evaluated diagnostic performance of a rapid influenza diagnostic test. Methodology A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in six private health facilities located within high-income residential areas in Nairobi from January 2019 to July 2020. Patients of all ages presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) were recruited into the study. Detection of influenza virus was conducted using rapid diagnosis and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and tests of association. Sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver operating characteristics curve was calculated to establish diagnostic accuracy of the rapid diagnosis test. Results The study recruited 125 participants with signs and symptoms of ILI, of whom 21 (16.8%) were positive for influenza viruses. Of all the influenza-positive cases, 17 (81.0%) were influenza type A of which 70.6% were pandemic H1N1 (A/H1N1 2009). Highest detection was observed among children aged 5–10 years. Influenza virus mostly circulated during the second half of the year, and fever, general fatigue and muscular and joint pain were significantly observed among participants with influenza virus. Sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test was 95% (95% confidence interval 75.1–99.9) and 100% (95% confidence interval 96.5–100.0), respectively. Conclusions Findings of this study shows continuous but variable activity of influenza virus throughout the year in this population, with substantial disease burden. The findings highlight the need for continuous epidemiologic surveillance including genetic surveillance to monitor activity and generate data to inform vaccine introduction or development, and other interventions.
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8
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Murunga N, Nyawanda B, Nyiro JU, Otieno GP, Kamau E, Agoti CN, Lewa C, Gichuki A, Mutunga M, Otieno N, Mayieka L, Ochieng M, Kikwai G, Hunsperger E, Onyango C, Emukule G, Bigogo G, Verani JR, Chaves SS, Nokes DJ, Munywoki PK. Surveillance of respiratory viruses at health facilities from across Kenya, 2014. Wellcome Open Res 2022. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17908.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. With (re)emergence of novel viruses and increased access to childhood bacterial vaccines, viruses have assumed greater importance in the aetiology of ARI. There are now promising candidate vaccines against some of the most common endemic respiratory viruses. Optimal delivery strategies for these vaccines, and the need for interventions against other respiratory viruses, requires geographically diverse data capturing temporal variations in virus circulation. Methods: We leveraged three health facility-based respiratory illness surveillance platforms operating in 11 sites across Kenya. Nasopharyngeal (NP) and/or oropharyngeal (OP) specimens, patient demographic, and clinical characteristics were collected in 2014 from individuals of various ages presenting with respiratory symptoms at the surveillance facilities. Real time multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, human coronaviruses (hCoV), and adenoviruses. Results: From 11 sites, 5451 NP/OP specimens were collected and tested from patients. Of these, 40.2% were positive for at least one of the targeted respiratory viruses. The most frequently detected were rhinoviruses (17.0%) and RSV A/B (10.5%), followed by influenza A (6.2%), adenovirus (6.0%) and hCoV (4.2%). RSV was most prevalent among infants aged <12 months old (18.9%), adenovirus among children aged 12–23 months old (11.0%), influenza A among children aged 24–59 months (9.3%), and rhinovirus across all age groups (range, 12.7–19.0%). The overall percent virus positivity varied by surveillance site, health facility type and case definition used in surveillance. Conclusions: We identify rhinoviruses, RSV, and influenza A as the most prevalent respiratory viruses. Higher RSV positivity in inpatient settings compared to outpatient clinics strengthen the case for RSV vaccination. To inform the design and delivery of public health interventions, long-term surveillance is required to establish regional heterogeneities in respiratory virus circulation and seasonality.
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9
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Gachari MN, Ndegwa L, Emukule GO, Kirui L, Kalani R, Juma B, Mayieka L, Kinuthia P, Widdowson MA, Chaves SS. Severe acute respiratory illness surveillance for influenza in Kenya: Patient characteristics and lessons learnt. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2022; 16:740-748. [PMID: 35289078 PMCID: PMC9111565 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We describe the epidemiology and clinical features of Kenyan patients hospitalized with laboratory‐confirmed influenza compared with those testing negative and discuss the potential contribution of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance in monitoring a broader range of respiratory pathogens. Methods We described demographic and clinical characteristics of SARI cases among children (<18 years) and adults, separately. We compared disease severity (clinical features and treatment) of hospitalized influenza positive versus negative cases and explored independent predictors of death among SARI cases using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results From January 2014 to December 2018, 11,166 persons were hospitalized with SARI and overall positivity for influenza was ~10%. There were 10,742 (96%) children (<18 years)—median age of 1 year, interquartile range (IQR = 6 months, 2 years). Only 424 (4%) of the SARI cases were adults (≥18 years), with median age of 38 years (IQR 28 years, 52 years). There was no difference in disease severity comparing influenza positive and negative cases among children. Children hospitalized with SARI who had an underlying illness had greater odds of in‐hospital death compared with those without (adjusted odds ratio 2.11 95% CI 1.09–4.07). No further analysis was done among adults due to the small sample size. Conclusion Kenya's sentinel surveillance for SARI mainly captures data on younger children. Hospital‐based platforms designed to monitor influenza viruses and associated disease burden may be adapted and expanded to other respiratory viruses to inform public health interventions. Efforts should be made to capture adults as part of routine respiratory surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryanne N Gachari
- Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (K-FELTP), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Linus Ndegwa
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gideon O Emukule
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lily Kirui
- Ministry of Health, National Influenza Centre (NIC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosalia Kalani
- Division of Disease Surveillance and Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bonventure Juma
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lilian Mayieka
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter Kinuthia
- Ministry of Health, National Influenza Centre (NIC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya.,Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Obermeier PE, Seeber LD, Alchikh M, Schweiger B, Rath BA. Incidence, Disease Severity, and Follow-Up of Influenza A/A, A/B, and B/B Virus Dual Infections in Children: A Hospital-Based Digital Surveillance Program. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030603. [PMID: 35337010 PMCID: PMC8955128 DOI: 10.3390/v14030603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus (IV) coinfection, i.e., simultaneous infection with IV and other viruses, is a common occurrence in humans. However, little is known about the incidence and clinical impact of coinfection with two different IV subtypes or lineages (“dual infections”). We report the incidence, standardized disease severity, and follow-up of IV dual infections from a hospital-based digital surveillance cohort, comprising 6073 pediatric patients fulfilling pre-defined criteria of influenza-like illness in Berlin, Germany. All patients were tested for IV A/B by PCR, including subtypes/lineages. We assessed all patients at the bedside using the mobile ViVI ScoreApp, providing a validated disease severity score in real-time. IV-positive patients underwent follow-up assessments until resolution of symptoms. Overall, IV dual infections were rare (4/6073 cases; 0.07%, incidence 12/100,000 per year) but showed unusual and/or prolonged clinical presentations with slightly above-average disease severity. We observed viral rebound, serial infection, and B/Yamagata-B/Victoria dual infection. Digital tools, used for instant clinical assessments at the bedside, combined with baseline/follow-up virologic investigation, help identify coinfections in cases of prolonged and/or complicated course of illness. Infection with one IV does not necessarily prevent consecutive or simultaneous (co-/dual) infection, highlighting the importance of multivalent influenza vaccination and enhanced digital clinical and virological surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E. Obermeier
- Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, D-10437 Berlin, Germany; (P.E.O.); (L.D.S.); (M.A.)
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement LCE, UMR CNRS 6249, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Lea D. Seeber
- Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, D-10437 Berlin, Germany; (P.E.O.); (L.D.S.); (M.A.)
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement LCE, UMR CNRS 6249, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Maren Alchikh
- Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, D-10437 Berlin, Germany; (P.E.O.); (L.D.S.); (M.A.)
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement LCE, UMR CNRS 6249, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Brunhilde Schweiger
- National Reference Center for Influenza, Robert Koch-Institute, D-13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Barbara A. Rath
- Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, D-10437 Berlin, Germany; (P.E.O.); (L.D.S.); (M.A.)
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement LCE, UMR CNRS 6249, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
- Correspondence:
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11
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Hasan S, Webby RJ, Iqbal M, Rashid HB, Ahmad MUD, Nazir J, DeBeauchamp J, Sadiq S, Chaudhry M. Sentinel surveillance for influenza A viruses in Lahore District Pakistan in flu season 2015-2016. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:38. [PMID: 34991508 PMCID: PMC8734537 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-07021-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza A virus (IAV) remains an important global public health threat with limited epidemiological information available from low-and-middle-income countries. The major objective of this study was to describe the proportions, temporal and spatial distribution, and demographic and clinical characteristics of IAV positive patients with influenza like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods Prospective surveillance was established in a sentinel hospital from October 2015 to May 2016. All eligible outpatients and inpatients with ILI or SARI were enrolled in the study. Nasal and/or throat swabs were collected along with clinico-epidemiological data. Samples were tested by real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) to identify IAV and subtype. The descriptive analysis of data was done in R software. Results Out of 311 enrolled patients, 284 (91.3%) were ILI and 27 (8.7%) were SARI cases. A distinct peak of ILI and SARI activity was observed in February. Fifty individuals (16%) were positive for IAV with peak positivity observed in December. Of 50 IAV, 15 were seasonal H3N2, 14 were H1N1pdm09 and 21 were unable to be typed. The majority of IAV positive cases (98%) presented with current or history of fever, 88% reported cough and 82% reported sore throat. The most common comorbidities in IAV positive cases were hepatitis C (4%), obesity (4%) and tuberculosis (6%). The highest incidence of patients reporting to the hospital was seen three days post symptoms onset (66/311) with 14 of these (14/66) positive for IAV. Conclusion Distinct trends of ILI, SARI and IAV positive cases were observed which can be used to inform public health interventions (vaccinations, hand and respiratory hygiene) at appropriate times among high-risk groups. We suggest sampling from both ILI and SARI patients in routine surveillance as recommended by WHO. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-07021-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Hasan
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Richard J Webby
- World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Muhammad Iqbal
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hamad Bin Rashid
- Department of Surgery and Pet Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mansur-Ud-Din Ahmad
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.,Department of Pathobiology, Riphah Veterinary College, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Nazir
- Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.,Virology Laboratory, Treidlia Biovet, Seven Hills, Blacktown, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer DeBeauchamp
- World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shakera Sadiq
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mamoona Chaudhry
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
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12
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Owuor DC, de Laurent ZR, Kikwai GK, Mayieka LM, Ochieng M, Müller NF, Otieno NA, Emukule GO, Hunsperger EA, Garten R, Barnes JR, Chaves SS, Nokes DJ, Agoti CN. Characterizing the Countrywide Epidemic Spread of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus in Kenya between 2009 and 2018. Viruses 2021; 13:1956. [PMID: 34696386 PMCID: PMC8539974 DOI: 10.3390/v13101956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatiotemporal patterns of spread of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses on a countrywide scale are unclear in many tropical/subtropical regions mainly because spatiotemporally representative sequence data are lacking. We isolated, sequenced, and analyzed 383 A(H1N1)pdm09 viral genomes from hospitalized patients between 2009 and 2018 from seven locations across Kenya. Using these genomes and contemporaneously sampled global sequences, we characterized the spread of the virus in Kenya over several seasons using phylodynamic methods. The transmission dynamics of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in Kenya were characterized by (i) multiple virus introductions into Kenya over the study period, although only a few of those introductions instigated local seasonal epidemics that then established local transmission clusters, (ii) persistence of transmission clusters over several epidemic seasons across the country, (iii) seasonal fluctuations in effective reproduction number (Re) associated with lower number of infections and seasonal fluctuations in relative genetic diversity after an initial rapid increase during the early pandemic phase, which broadly corresponded to epidemic peaks in the northern and southern hemispheres, (iv) high virus genetic diversity with greater frequency of seasonal fluctuations in 2009-2011 and 2018 and low virus genetic diversity with relatively weaker seasonal fluctuations in 2012-2017, and (v) virus spread across Kenya. Considerable influenza virus diversity circulated within Kenya, including persistent viral lineages that were unique to the country, which may have been capable of dissemination to other continents through a globally migrating virus population. Further knowledge of the viral lineages that circulate within understudied low-to-middle-income tropical and subtropical regions is required to understand the full diversity and global ecology of influenza viruses in humans and to inform vaccination strategies within these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Collins Owuor
- Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kilifi 230-80108, Kenya; (Z.R.d.L.); (D.J.N.); (C.N.A.)
| | - Zaydah R. de Laurent
- Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kilifi 230-80108, Kenya; (Z.R.d.L.); (D.J.N.); (C.N.A.)
| | - Gilbert K. Kikwai
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya; (G.K.K.); (L.M.M.); (M.O.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Lillian M. Mayieka
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya; (G.K.K.); (L.M.M.); (M.O.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Melvin Ochieng
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya; (G.K.K.); (L.M.M.); (M.O.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Nicola F. Müller
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
| | - Nancy A. Otieno
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya; (G.K.K.); (L.M.M.); (M.O.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Gideon O. Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Influenza Division, Nairobi 606-00621, Kenya; (G.O.E.); (S.S.C.)
| | - Elizabeth A. Hunsperger
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Health Protection, Nairobi 606-00621, Kenya;
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Health Protection, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Rebecca Garten
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; (R.G.); (J.R.B.)
| | - John R. Barnes
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; (R.G.); (J.R.B.)
| | - Sandra S. Chaves
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Influenza Division, Nairobi 606-00621, Kenya; (G.O.E.); (S.S.C.)
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; (R.G.); (J.R.B.)
| | - D. James Nokes
- Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kilifi 230-80108, Kenya; (Z.R.d.L.); (D.J.N.); (C.N.A.)
- School of Life Sciences and Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER), Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Charles N. Agoti
- Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Epidemiology and Demography Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kilifi 230-80108, Kenya; (Z.R.d.L.); (D.J.N.); (C.N.A.)
- School of Public Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi 195-80108, Kenya
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13
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Nambafu J, Achakolong M, Mwendwa F, Bwika J, Riunga F, Gitau S, Patel H, Adam RD. A prospective observational study of community acquired pneumonia in Kenya: the role of viral pathogens. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:703. [PMID: 34301184 PMCID: PMC8300991 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06388-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lower respiratory tract infections continue to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality across all age groups globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, many studies of community acquired pneumonia in adults have focused on HIV-infected patients and little attention has been given to risk factors and etiologic agents in an urban area with a more moderate HIV prevalence. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 77 patients admitted to a 280 bed teaching hospital in Kenya with radiographically confirmed community acquired pneumonia from May 2019 to March 2020. The patients were followed for etiology and clinical outcomes. Viral PCR testing was performed using the FTD respiratory pathogen-21 multiplex kit on nasopharyngeal or lower respiratory samples. Additional microbiologic workup was performed as determined by the treating physicians. RESULTS A potential etiologic agent(s) was identified in 57% including 43% viral, 5% combined viral and bacterial, 5% bacterial and 4% Pneumocystis. The most common etiologic agent was Influenza A which was associated with severe clinical disease. The most common underlying conditions were cardiovascular disease, diabetes and lung disease, while HIV infection was identified in only 13% of patients. Critical care admission was required for 24, and 31% had acute kidney injury, sometimes in combination with acute respiratory distress or sepsis. CONCLUSION Viruses, especially influenza, were commonly found in patients with CAP. In contrast to other studies from sub-Saharan Africa, the underlying conditions were similar to those reported in high resource areas and point to the growing concern of the double burden of infectious and noncommunicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamila Nambafu
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mary Achakolong
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fridah Mwendwa
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jumaa Bwika
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Felix Riunga
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samuel Gitau
- Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Hanika Patel
- Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rodney D. Adam
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Third Parklands Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
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Otieno NA, Malik FA, Nganga SW, Wairimu WN, Ouma DO, Bigogo GM, Chaves SS, Verani JR, Widdowson MA, Wilson AD, Bergenfeld I, Gonzalez-Casanova I, Omer SB. Decision-making process for introduction of maternal vaccines in Kenya, 2017-2018. Implement Sci 2021; 16:39. [PMID: 33845842 PMCID: PMC8042952 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-021-01101-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immunization is a key strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in mothers and their newborns. Recent developments in the science and safety of maternal vaccinations have made possible development of new maternal vaccines ready for introduction in low- and middle-income countries. Decisions at the policy level remain the entry point for maternal immunization programs. We describe the policy and decision-making process in Kenya for the introduction of new vaccines, with particular emphasis on maternal vaccines, and identify opportunities to improve vaccine policy formulation and implementation process. METHODS We conducted 29 formal interviews with government officials and policy makers, including high-level officials at the Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, and Ministry of Health officials at national and county levels. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. We analyzed the qualitative data using NVivo 11.0 software. RESULTS All key informants understood the vaccine policy formulation and implementation processes, although national officials appeared more informed compared to county officials. County officials reported feeling left out of policy development. The recent health system decentralization had both positive and negative impacts on the policy process; however, the negative impacts outweighed the positive impacts. Other factors outside vaccine policy environment such as rumours, sociocultural practices, and anti-vaccine campaigns influenced the policy development and implementation process. CONCLUSIONS Public policy development process is complex and multifaceted by its nature. As Kenya prepares for introduction of other maternal vaccines, it is important that the identified policy gaps and challenges are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy A. Otieno
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Fauzia A. Malik
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Stacy W. Nganga
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Winnie N. Wairimu
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Dominic O. Ouma
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Godfrey M. Bigogo
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Sandra S. Chaves
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PO Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jennifer R. Verani
- Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PO Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PO Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Andrew D. Wilson
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Irina Bergenfeld
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Ines Gonzalez-Casanova
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Saad B. Omer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
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15
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Lagare A, Rajatonirina S, Testa J, Mamadou S. The epidemiology of seasonal influenza after the 2009 influenza pandemic in Africa: a systematic review. Afr Health Sci 2020; 20:1514-1536. [PMID: 34394213 PMCID: PMC8351825 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v20i4.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza infection is a serious public health problem that causes an estimated 3 to 5 million cases and 250,000 deaths worldwide every year. The epidemiology of influenza is well-documented in high- and middle-income countries, however minimal effort had been made to understand the epidemiology, burden and seasonality of influenza in Africa. This study aims to assess the state of knowledge of seasonal influenza epidemiology in Africa and identify potential data gaps for policy formulation following the 2009 pandemic. Method We reviewed articles from Africa published into four databases namely: MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and Scientific Research Publishing from 2010 to 2019. Results We screened titles and abstracts of 2070 studies of which 311 were selected for full content evaluation and 199 studies were considered. Selected articles varied substantially on the basis of the topics they addressed covering the field of influenza surveillance (n=80); influenza risk factors and co-morbidities (n=15); influenza burden (n=37); influenza vaccination (n=40); influenza and other respiratory pathogens (n=22) and influenza diagnosis (n=5). Conclusion Significant progress has been made since the last pandemic in understanding the influenza epidemiology in Africa. However, efforts still remain for most countries to have sufficient data to allow countries to prioritize strategies for influenza prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adamou Lagare
- Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire (CERMES), Niamey, Niger
| | | | - Jean Testa
- Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire (CERMES), Niamey, Niger
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16
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Otieno NA, Nyawanda B, Otiato F, Adero M, Wairimu WN, Atito R, Wilson AD, Gonzalez-Casanova I, Malik FA, Verani JR, Widdowson MA, Omer SB, Chaves SS. Knowledge and attitudes towards influenza and influenza vaccination among pregnant women in Kenya. Vaccine 2020; 38:6832-6838. [PMID: 32893035 PMCID: PMC7526973 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza vaccination during pregnancy benefits mothers and children. Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries have no official influenza vaccination policies to date but are moving towards issuing such policies. Understanding determinants of influenza vaccine uptake during pregnancy in these settings is important to inform policy decisions and vaccination rollout. METHODS We interviewed a convenience sample of women at antenatal care facilities in four counties (Nairobi, Mombasa, Marsabit, Siaya) in Kenya. We described knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination and assessed factors associated with willingness to receive influenza vaccine. RESULTS We enrolled 507 pregnant women, median age was 26 years (range 15-43). Almost half (n = 240) had primary or no education. Overall, 369 (72.8%) women had heard of influenza. Among those, 288 (78.1%) believed that a pregnant woman would be protected if vaccinated, 252 (68.3%) thought it was safe to receive a vaccine while pregnant, and 223 (60.4%) believed a baby would be protected if mother was vaccinated. If given opportunity, 309 (83.7%) pregnant women were willing to receive the vaccine. Factors associated with willingness to receive influenza vaccine were mothers' belief in protective effect (OR 3.87; 95% CI 1.56, 9.59) and safety (OR 5.32; 95% CI 2.35, 12.01) of influenza vaccines during pregnancy. CONCLUSION Approximately one third of pregnant women interviewed had never heard of influenza. Willingness to receive influenza vaccine was high among women who had heard about influenza. If the Kenyan government recommends influenza vaccine for pregnant women, mitigation of safety concerns and education on the benefits of vaccination could be the most effective strategies to improve vaccine acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy A Otieno
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya.
| | - Bryan Nyawanda
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Otiato
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maxwel Adero
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Winnie N Wairimu
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Raphael Atito
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Andrew D Wilson
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Hubert Department of Global Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ines Gonzalez-Casanova
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Hubert Department of Global Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Fauzia A Malik
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Hubert Department of Global Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer R Verani
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Health Protection, Kenya
| | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Health Protection, Kenya
| | - Saad B Omer
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Hubert Department of Global Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Kenya
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Umuhoza T, Bulimo WD, Oyugi J, Schnabel D, Mancuso JD. Prevalence and factors influencing the distribution of influenza viruses in Kenya: Seven-year hospital-based surveillance of influenza-like illness (2007-2013). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237857. [PMID: 32822390 PMCID: PMC7446924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza viruses remain a global threat with the potential to trigger outbreaks and pandemics. Globally, seasonal influenza viruses’ mortality range from 291 243–645 832 annually, of which 17% occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa. We sought to estimate the overall prevalence of influenza infections in Kenya, identifying factors influencing the distribution of these infections, and describe trends in occurrence from 2007 to 2013. Methods Surveillance was conducted at eight district hospital sites countrywide. Participants who met the case definition for influenza-like illness were enrolled in the surveillance program. The nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from all participants. We tested all specimens for influenza viruses with quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. Bivariate and multivariate log-binomial regression was performed with a statistically significant level of p<0.005. An administrative map of Kenya was used to locate the geographical distribution of surveillance sites in counties. We visualized the monthly trend of influenza viruses with a graph and chart using exponential smoothing at a damping factor of 0.5 over the study period (2007–2013). Results A total of 17446 participants enrolled in the program. The overall prevalence of influenza viruses was 19% (n = 3230), of which 76% (n = 2449) were type A, 21% (n = 669) type B and 3% (n = 112) A/ B coinfection. Of those with type A, 59% (n = 1451) were not subtyped. Seasonal influenza A/H3N2 was found in 48% (n = 475), influenza A/H1N1/pdm 2009 in 43% (n = 434), and seasonal influenza A/ H1N1 in 9% (n = 88) participants. Both genders were represented, whereas a large proportion of participants 55% were ≤1year age. Influenza prevalence was high, 2 times more in other age categories compared to ≤1year age. Category of occupation other than children and school attendees had a high prevalence of influenza virus (p< <0.001). The monthly trends of influenza viruses’ positivity showed no seasonal pattern. Influenza types A and B co-circulated throughout the annual calendar during seven years of the surveillance. Conclusions Influenza viruses circulate year-round and occur among children as well as the adult population in Kenya. Occupational and school-based settings showed a higher prevalence of influenza viruses. There were no regular seasonal patterns for influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese Umuhoza
- Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Wallace D. Bulimo
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, United State Army Medical Research Directorate – Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - Julius Oyugi
- Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Schnabel
- US President’s Malaria Initiative, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - James D. Mancuso
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Dawa J, Emukule GO, Barasa E, Widdowson MA, Anzala O, van Leeuwen E, Baguelin M, Chaves SS, Eggo RM. Seasonal influenza vaccination in Kenya: an economic evaluation using dynamic transmission modelling. BMC Med 2020; 18:223. [PMID: 32814581 PMCID: PMC7438179 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01687-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is substantial burden of seasonal influenza in Kenya, which led the government to consider introducing a national influenza vaccination programme. Given the cost implications of a nationwide programme, local economic evaluation data are needed to inform policy on the design and benefits of influenza vaccination. We set out to estimate the cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in Kenya. METHODS We fitted an age-stratified dynamic transmission model to active surveillance data from patients with influenza from 2010 to 2018. Using a societal perspective, we developed a decision tree cost-effectiveness model and estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for three vaccine target groups: children 6-23 months (strategy I), 2-5 years (strategy II) and 6-14 years (strategy III) with either the Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine (Strategy A) or Northern Hemisphere vaccine (Strategy B) or both (Strategy C: twice yearly vaccination campaigns, or Strategy D: year-round vaccination campaigns). We assessed cost-effectiveness by calculating incremental net monetary benefits (INMB) using a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of 1-51% of the annual gross domestic product per capita ($17-$872). RESULTS The mean number of infections across all ages was 2-15 million per year. When vaccination was well timed to influenza activity, the annual mean ICER per DALY averted for vaccinating children 6-23 months ranged between $749 and $1385 for strategy IA, $442 and $1877 for strategy IB, $678 and $4106 for strategy IC and $1147 and $7933 for strategy ID. For children 2-5 years, it ranged between $945 and $1573 for strategy IIA, $563 and $1869 for strategy IIB, $662 and $4085 for strategy IIC, and $1169 and $7897 for strategy IID. For children 6-14 years, it ranged between $923 and $3116 for strategy IIIA, $1005 and $2223 for strategy IIIB, $883 and $4727 for strategy IIIC and $1467 and $6813 for strategy IIID. Overall, no vaccination strategy was cost-effective at the minimum ($17) and median ($445) WTP thresholds. Vaccinating children 6-23 months once a year had the highest mean INMB value at $872 (WTP threshold upper limit); however, this strategy had very low probability of the highest net benefit. CONCLUSION Vaccinating children 6-23 months once a year was the most favourable vaccination option; however, the strategy is unlikely to be cost-effective given the current WTP thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette Dawa
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Washington State University Global Health Programs Kenya Office, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Gideon O Emukule
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marc Alain Widdowson
- Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
- Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Omu Anzala
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Marc Baguelin
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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19
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Assaf-Casals A, Saleh Z, Khafaja S, Fayad D, Ezzeddine H, Saleh M, Chamseddine S, Sayegh R, Sharara SL, Chmaisse A, Kanj SS, Kanafani Z, Hanna-Wakim R, Araj GF, Mahfouz R, Saito R, Suzuki H, Zaraket H, Dbaibo GS. The burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection in Lebanon between 2008 and 2016: a single tertiary care center experience. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:339. [PMID: 32397965 PMCID: PMC7216128 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05013-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Following the 2009 pandemic, there was widened interest in studying influenza burden in all regions. However, since data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain limited, we aimed to contribute to the understanding of influenza burden in Lebanon. METHODS A retrospective chart review extending over a period of 8 seasons from Jan 1st, 2008 till June 30th, 2016 at a tertiary care center in Beirut was performed. All cases confirmed to have influenza based on rapid antigen detection or/and polymerase chain reaction on a respiratory sample were included for analysis. Data on epidemiology, clinical presentation, complications, antiviral use and mortality were collected for analysis. RESULTS A total of 1829 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were identified. Average annual positivity rate was 14% (positive tests over total requested). Both influenza A and B co-circulated in each season with predominance of influenza A. Influenza virus started circulating in December and peaked in January and February. The age group of 19-50 years accounted for the largest proportion of cases (22.5%) followed by the age group of 5-19 years (18%). Pneumonia was the most common complication reported in 33% of cases. Mortality reached 3.8%. The two extremes of age (< 2 years and ≥ 65 years) were associated with a more severe course of disease, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, complications, and mortality rate. Of all the identified cases, 26% were hospitalized. Moderate-to-severe disease was more likely in influenza B cases but no difference in mortality was reported between the two types. Antivirals were prescribed in 68.8% and antibiotics in 41% of cases. There seemed to be an increasing trend in the number of diagnosed and hospitalized cases over the years of the study. CONCLUSION Patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza at our center had a high rate of hospitalization and mortality. A population based prospective surveillance study is needed to better estimate the burden of Influenza in Lebanon that would help formulate a policy on influenza control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aia Assaf-Casals
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Zeina Saleh
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Sarah Khafaja
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Danielle Fayad
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Hady Ezzeddine
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Mohammad Saleh
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Sarah Chamseddine
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Rouba Sayegh
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Sima L Sharara
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Ahmad Chmaisse
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Souha S Kanj
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Zeina Kanafani
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Rima Hanna-Wakim
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - George F Araj
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Rami Mahfouz
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Reiko Saito
- Department of Public Health at Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suzuki
- Department of Public Health at Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hassan Zaraket
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
| | - Ghassan S Dbaibo
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, PO Box: 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
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20
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Idubor OI, Kobayashi M, Ndegwa L, Okeyo M, Galgalo T, Kalani R, Githii S, Hunsperger E, Balajee A, Verani JR, da Gloria Carvalho M, Winchell J, Van Beneden CA, Widdowson MA, Makayotto L, Chaves SS. Improving Detection and Response to Respiratory Events - Kenya, April 2016-April 2020. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2020; 69:540-544. [PMID: 32379727 PMCID: PMC7737949 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6918a2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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21
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Okello PE, Majwala RK, Kalani R, Kwesiga B, Kizito S, Kabwama SN, Bulage L, Ndegwa LK, Ochieng M, Harris JR, Hunsperger E, Kajumbula H, Kadobera D, Zhu BP, Chaves SS, Ario AR, Widdowson MA. Investigation of a Cluster of Severe Respiratory Disease Referred from Uganda to Kenya, February 2017. Health Secur 2020; 18:96-104. [PMID: 32324075 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2019.0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
On February 22, 2017, Hospital X-Kampala and US CDC-Kenya reported to the Uganda Ministry of Health a respiratory illness in a 46-year-old expatriate of Company A. The patient, Mr. A, was evacuated from Uganda to Kenya and died. He had recently been exposed to dromedary camels (MERS-CoV) and wild birds with influenza A (H5N6). We investigated the cause of illness, transmission, and recommended control. We defined a suspected case of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) as acute onset of fever (≥38°C) with sore throat or cough and at least one of the following: headache, lethargy, or difficulty in breathing. In addition, we looked at cases with onset between February 1 and March 31 in a person with a history of contact with Mr. A, his family, or other Company A employees. A confirmed case was defined as a suspected case with laboratory confirmation of the same pathogen detected in Mr. A. Influenza-like illness was defined as onset of fever (≥38°C) and cough or sore throat in a Uganda contact, and as fever (≥38°C) and cough lasting less than 10 days in a Kenya contact. We collected Mr. A's exposure and clinical history, searched for cases, and traced contacts. Specimens from the index case were tested for complete blood count, liver function tests, plasma chemistry, Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and MERS-CoV. Robust field epidemiology, laboratory capacity, and cross-border communication enabled investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Edward Okello
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Robert Kaos Majwala
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Rosalia Kalani
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Benon Kwesiga
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Susan Kizito
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Steven N Kabwama
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Lilian Bulage
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Linus K Ndegwa
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Melvin Ochieng
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Julie R Harris
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Elizabeth Hunsperger
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Henry Kajumbula
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Daniel Kadobera
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Bao-Ping Zhu
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Alex Riolexus Ario
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Paul Edward Okello, MSc, is an Epidemiologist/Microbiologist; Benon Kwesiga, MPH, is Field Supervisor; Susan Kizito, MSc, Steven N. Kabwama, MPH, and Daniel Kadobera, MSc, are Epidemiologists; all with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. Robert Kaos Majwala, MA, is an Epidemiologist and Data Analyst, National Disease Control, Uganda Ministry of Health, and University Research Co, LLC, Center for Human Services, Kampala. Rosalia Kalani, MSc, is a Public Health Specialist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemic Response, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya. Lilian Bulage, MSc, is an Epidemiologist and Scientific Writer, African Field Epidemiology Network-Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Linus K. Ndegwa, PhD, is an Epidemiologist; Elizabeth Hunsperger, PhD, is Laboratory Director, Division of Global Health Protection; Sandra S. Chaves, MD, is Director, Influenza Program; and Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB, is Director, CDC-Kenya; all with CDC, Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Widdowson is also Director, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Henry Kajumbula, PhD, is Chair, Clinical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Melvin Ochieng is a Biochemical Research Assistant, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi. Julie R. Harris, PhD, is Resident Advisor, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kampala, Uganda. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, is a Medical Epidemiologist, Center for Global Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA. Alex Riolexus Ario, PhD, is Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Elhakim M, Hafiz Rasooly M, Fahim M, Sheikh Ali S, Haddad N, Cherkaoui I, Hjaija D, Nadeem S, Assiri A, Aljifri A, Elkholy A, Barakat A, Shrestha B, Abubakar A, Malik SMMR. Epidemiology of severe cases of influenza and other acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, July 2016 to June 2018. J Infect Public Health 2020; 13:423-429. [PMID: 31281105 PMCID: PMC7102678 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza surveillance systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have been strengthened in the past few years and 16 of the 19 countries in the Region with functional influenza surveillance systems report their influenza data to the EMFLU Network. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of circulating influenza viruses, causing SARI, and reported to the EMFLU during July 2016 to June 2018. METHODS Data included in this study were collected by 15 countries of the Region from 110 SARI sentinel surveillance sites over two influenza seasons. RESULTS A total of 40,917 cases of SARI were included in the study. Most cases [20,551 (50.2%)] were less than 5years of age. Influenza virus was detected in 3995 patients, 2849 (11.8%) were influenza A and 1146 (4.8%) were influenza B. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the predominant circulating subtype with 1666 cases (58.5%). Other than influenza, respiratory syncytial virus was the most common respiratory infection circulating, with 277 cases (35.9%). CONCLUSION Influenza viruses cause a high number of severe respiratory infections in EMR. It is crucial for the countries to continue improving their influenza surveillance capacity in order detect any unusual influenza activity or new strain that may cause a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Elhakim
- Infectious Hazard Management Unit, Department of Health Emergencies, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Mohammad Hafiz Rasooly
- Surveillance/National Influenza Coordinator, EHIS DG, Surveillance Department, Ministry of Public Health, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Manal Fahim
- Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sami Sheikh Ali
- Data Analysis Division, Influenza Surveillance Focal Point, Communicable Diseases Directorate, Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan
| | - Nadine Haddad
- Epidemiological Surveillance Program, Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Imad Cherkaoui
- Influenza Surveillance Focal Point, Directorate of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Diaa Hjaija
- Palestinian Ministry of Health, Ramallah, occupied Palestinian territory
| | - Shazia Nadeem
- Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Alanoud Aljifri
- Influenza Surveillance Focal Point, Adult Infectious Disease Consultant, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amgad Elkholy
- Infectious Hazard Management Unit, Department of Health Emergencies, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amal Barakat
- Infectious Hazard Management Unit, Department of Health Emergencies, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Bhagawan Shrestha
- Infectious Hazard Management Unit, Department of Health Emergencies, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abdinasir Abubakar
- Infectious Hazard Management Unit, Department of Health Emergencies, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sk Md Mamunur R Malik
- Infectious Hazard Management Unit, Department of Health Emergencies, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
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23
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Emukule GO, Otiato F, Nyawanda BO, Otieno NA, Ochieng CA, Ndegwa LK, Muturi P, Bigogo G, Verani JR, Muthoka PM, Hunsperger E, Chaves SS. The Epidemiology and Burden of Influenza B/Victoria and B/Yamagata Lineages in Kenya, 2012-2016. Open Forum Infect Dis 2019; 6:ofz421. [PMID: 31660376 PMCID: PMC6804754 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The impact of influenza B virus circulation in Sub-Saharan Africa is not well described. Methods We analyzed data from acute respiratory illness (ARI) in Kenya. We assessed clinical features and age-specific hospitalization and outpatient visit rates by person-years for influenza B/Victoria and B/Yamagata and the extent to which circulating influenza B lineages in Kenya matched the vaccine strain component of the corresponding season (based on Northern Hemisphere [October–March] and Southern Hemisphere [April–September] vaccine availability). Results From 2012 to 2016, influenza B represented 31% of all influenza-associated ARIs detected (annual range, 13–61%). Rates of influenza B hospitalization and outpatient visits were higher for <5 vs ≥5 years. Among <5 years, B/Victoria was associated with pneumonia hospitalization (64% vs 44%; P = .010) and in-hospital mortality (6% vs 0%; P = .042) compared with B/Yamagata, although the mean annual hospitalization rate for B/Victoria was comparable to that estimated for B/Yamagata. The 2 lineages co-circulated, and there were mismatches with available trivalent influenza vaccines in 2/9 seasons assessed. Conclusions Influenza B causes substantial burden in Kenya, particularly among children aged <5 years, in whom B/Victoria may be associated with increased severity. Our findings suggest a benefit from including both lineages when considering influenza vaccination in Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon O Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Nancy A Otieno
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu and Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Linus K Ndegwa
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Godfrey Bigogo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu and Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jennifer R Verani
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Elizabeth Hunsperger
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya.,Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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24
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Emukule GO, Namagambo B, Owor N, Bakamutumaho B, Kayiwa JT, Namulondo J, Byaruhanga T, Tempia S, Chaves SS, Lutwama JJ. Influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalizations in Uganda, 2013-2016. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219012. [PMID: 31306466 PMCID: PMC6629074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza is an important contributor to acute respiratory illness, including pneumonia, and results in substantial morbidity and mortality globally. Understanding the local burden of influenza-associated severe disease can inform decisions on allocation of resources toward influenza control programs. Currently, there is no national influenza vaccination program in Uganda. METHODS In this study, we used data on pneumonia hospitalizations that were collected and reported through the Health Management Information System (HMIS) of the Ministry of Health, Uganda, and the laboratory-confirmed influenza positivity data from severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance in three districts (Wakiso, Mbarara, and Tororo) to estimate the age-specific incidence of influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalizations from January 2013 through December 2016. RESULTS The overall estimated mean annual rate of pneumonia hospitalizations in the three districts was 371 (95% confidence interval [CI] 323-434) per 100,000 persons, and was highest among children aged <5 years (1,524 [95% CI 1,286-1,849]) compared to persons aged ≥5 years (123 [95% CI 105-144]) per 100,000 persons. The estimated mean annual rate of influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalization was 34 (95% CI 23-48) per 100,000 persons (116 [95% CI 78-165] and 16 [95% CI 6-28] per 100,000 persons among children aged <5 years and those ≥5 years, respectively). Among children aged <5 years, the rate of hospitalized influenza-associated pneumonia was highest among those who were <2 years old (178 [95% CI 109-265] per 100,000 persons). Over the period of analysis, the estimated mean annual number of hospitalized influenza-associated pneumonia cases in the three districts ranged between 672 and 1,436, of which over 70% represent children aged <5 years. CONCLUSIONS The burden of influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalizations was substantial in Uganda, and was highest among young children aged <5 years. Influenza vaccination may be considered, especially for very young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon O. Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Barbara Namagambo
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Nicholas Owor
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Barnabas Bakamutumaho
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - John T. Kayiwa
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Joyce Namulondo
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Timothy Byaruhanga
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Stefano Tempia
- Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sandra S. Chaves
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Julius J. Lutwama
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Centre (UVRI-NIC), Entebbe, Uganda
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Dawa J, Chaves SS, Ba Nguz A, Kalani R, Anyango E, Mutie D, Muthoka P, Tabu C, Maritim M, Amukoye E, Were F. Developing a seasonal influenza vaccine recommendation in Kenya: Process and challenges faced by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). Vaccine 2018; 37:464-472. [PMID: 30502070 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.11.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2014 the Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG) was asked by the Ministry of Health to provide an evidence-based recommendation on whether the seasonal influenza vaccine should be introduced into the national immunization program (NIP). METHODS We reviewed KENITAG manuals, reports and meeting minutes generated between June 2014 and June 2016 in order to describe the process KENITAG used in arriving at that recommendation and the challenges encountered. RESULTS KENITAG developed a recommendation framework to identify critical, important and non-critical data elements that would guide deliberations on the subject. Literature searches were conducted in several databases and the quality of scientific articles obtained was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. There were significant gaps in knowledge on the national burden of influenza disease among key risk groups, i.e., pregnant women, individuals with co-morbidities, the elderly and health care workers. Insufficient funding and limited work force hindered KENITAG activities. In 2016 KENITAG recommended introduction of the annual seasonal influenza vaccine among children 6 to 23 months of age. However, the recommendation was contingent on implementation of a pilot study to address gaps in local data on the socio-economic impact of influenza vaccination programs, strategies for vaccine delivery, and the impact of the vaccination program on the healthcare workforce and existing immunization program. KENITAG did not recommend the influenza vaccine for any other risk group due to lack of local burden of disease data. CONCLUSION Local data are a critical element in NITAG deliberations, however, where local data and in particular burden of disease data are lacking, there is need to adopt scientifically acceptable methods of utilizing findings from other countries to inform local decisions in a manner that is valid and acceptable to decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette Dawa
- Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine Advisory Committees (SIVAC) Initiative, Agency for Preventive Medicine (AMP), Paris, France.
| | - Sandra S Chaves
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya; Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Antoinette Ba Nguz
- Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine Advisory Committees (SIVAC) Initiative, Agency for Preventive Medicine (AMP), Paris, France
| | - Rosalia Kalani
- Disease Surveillance and Response Unit, Ministry of Health, Kenya; Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edwina Anyango
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya; National Vaccines Immunization Programme, Ministry of Health, Kenya
| | - Dominic Mutie
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya; National Vaccines Immunization Programme, Ministry of Health, Kenya
| | - Phillip Muthoka
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya; National Vaccines Immunization Programme, Ministry of Health, Kenya
| | - Collins Tabu
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya; National Vaccines Immunization Programme, Ministry of Health, Kenya
| | - Marybeth Maritim
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Evans Amukoye
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fred Were
- Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Nairobi, Kenya
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Caini S, El‐Guerche Séblain C, Ciblak MA, Paget J. Epidemiology of seasonal influenza in the Middle East and North Africa regions, 2010-2016: Circulating influenza A and B viruses and spatial timing of epidemics. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2018; 12:344-352. [PMID: 29405575 PMCID: PMC5907816 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a limited knowledge regarding the epidemiology of influenza in Middle East and North Africa. OBJECTIVES We described the patterns of influenza circulation and the timing of seasonal epidemics in countries of Middle East and North Africa. METHODS We used virological surveillance data for 2010-2016 from the WHO FluNet database. In each country, we calculated the median proportion of cases that were caused by each virus type and subtype; determined the timing and amplitude of the primary and secondary peaks; and used linear regression models to test for spatial trends in the timing of epidemics. RESULTS We included 70 532 influenza cases from seventeen countries. Influenza A and B accounted for a median 76.5% and 23.5% of cases in a season and were the dominant type in 86.8% and 13.2% of seasons. The proportion of influenza A cases that were subtyped was 85.9%, while only 4.4% of influenza B cases were characterized. For most countries, influenza seasonality was similar to the Northern Hemisphere, with a single large peak between January and March; exceptions were the countries in the Arabian Peninsula and Jordan, all of which showed clear secondary peaks, and some countries had an earlier primary peak (in November-December in Bahrain and Qatar). The direction of the timing of influenza activity was east to west and south to north in 2012-2013 and 2015-2016, and west to east in 2014-2015. CONCLUSIONS The epidemiology of influenza is generally uniform in countries of Middle East and North Africa, with influenza B playing an important role in the seasonal disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Caini
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL)UtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Meral A. Ciblak
- Regional Influenza Expert, Africa/Eurasia and Middle East regionSanofi PasteurIstanbulTurkey
| | - John Paget
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL)UtrechtThe Netherlands
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Newman LP, Bhat N, Fleming JA, Neuzil KM. Global influenza seasonality to inform country-level vaccine programs: An analysis of WHO FluNet influenza surveillance data between 2011 and 2016. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193263. [PMID: 29466459 PMCID: PMC5821378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
By analyzing publicly available surveillance data from 2011-2016, we produced country-specific estimates of seasonal influenza activity for 118 countries in the six World Health Organization regions. Overall, the average country influenza activity period was 4.7 months. Our analysis characterized 100 countries (85%) with one influenza peak season, 13 (11%) with two influenza peak seasons, and five (4%) with year-round influenza activity. Surveillance data were limited for many countries. These data provide national estimates of influenza activity, which may guide planning for influenza vaccination implementation, program timing and duration, and policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura P. Newman
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Niranjan Bhat
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jessica A. Fleming
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kathleen M. Neuzil
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Barnes SR, Wansaula Z, Herrick K, Oren E, Ernst K, Olsen SJ, Casal MG. Mortality estimates among adult patients with severe acute respiratory infections from two sentinel hospitals in southern Arizona, United States, 2010-2014. BMC Infect Dis 2018; 18:78. [PMID: 29433471 PMCID: PMC5809880 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-2984-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND From October 2010 through February 2016, Arizona conducted surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) among adults hospitalized in the Arizona-Mexico border region. There are few accurate mortality estimates in SARI patients, particularly in adults ≥ 65 years old. The purpose of this study was to generate mortality estimates among SARI patients that include deaths occurring shortly after hospital discharge and identify risk factors for mortality. METHODS Patients admitted to two sentinel hospitals between 2010 and 2014 who met the SARI case definition were enrolled. Demographic data were used to link SARI patients to Arizona death certificates. Mortality within 30 days after the date of admission was calculated and risk factors were identified using logistic regression models. RESULTS Among 258 SARI patients, 47% were females, 51% were white, non-Hispanic and 39% were Hispanic. The median age was 63 years (range, 19 to 97 years) and 80% had one or more pre-existing health condition; 9% died in hospital. Mortality increased to 12% (30/258, 30% increase) when electronic vital records and a 30-day post-hospitalization time frame were used. Being age ≥ 65 years (OR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.6-9.9) and having an intensive care unit admission (OR = 7.4; 95% CI: 3.0-17.9) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION The use of electronic vital records increased SARI-associated mortality estimates by 30%. These findings may help guide prevention and treatment measures, particularly in high-risk persons in this highly fluid border population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve R. Barnes
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program, 400 West Congress, Suite 116, Tucson, AZ 85701 USA
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724 USA
| | - Zimy Wansaula
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program, 400 West Congress, Suite 116, Tucson, AZ 85701 USA
| | - Kristen Herrick
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, 150 N 18th Ave Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85007 USA
| | - Eyal Oren
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724 USA
| | - Kacey Ernst
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724 USA
| | - Sonja J. Olsen
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 USA
| | - Mariana G. Casal
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program, 400 West Congress, Suite 116, Tucson, AZ 85701 USA
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McMorrow ML, Emukule GO, Obor D, Nyawanda B, Otieno NA, Makokha C, Mott JA, Bresee JS, Reed C. Maternal influenza vaccine strategies in Kenya: Which approach would have the greatest impact on disease burden in pregnant women and young infants? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189623. [PMID: 29283997 PMCID: PMC5746219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent influenza surveillance data from Africa suggest an important burden of influenza-associated morbidity and mortality. In tropical countries where influenza virus transmission may not be confined to a single season alternative strategies for vaccine distribution via antenatal care (ANC) or semiannual campaigns should be considered. Methods Using data on monthly influenza disease burden in women of child-bearing age and infants aged 0–5 months in Kenya from 2010–2014, we estimated the number of outcomes (illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths) that occurred and that may have been averted through influenza vaccination of pregnant women using: 1) a year-round immunization strategy through ANC, 2) annual vaccination campaigns, and 3) semiannual vaccination campaigns. Results During 2010–2014, influenza resulted in an estimated 279,047 illnesses, 36,276 medical visits, 1612 hospitalizations and 243 deaths in pregnant women and 157,053 illnesses, 65,177 medical visits, 4197 hospitalizations, and 755 deaths in infants aged 0–5 months in Kenya. Depending on the mode of distribution and the vaccine coverage achieved, 12.8–31.4% of influenza-associated disease in pregnant women and 11.6–22.1% in infants aged 0–5 months might have been prevented through maternal influenza immunization. In this model, point estimates for influenza-associated disease averted through maternal vaccination delivered year-round in ANC or semiannually in campaigns were higher than vaccination delivered in a single annual campaign, but confidence intervals overlapped. Conclusions Vaccinating pregnant women against influenza can reduce the burden of influenza-associated illness, hospitalization and death in both pregnant women and their young infants. Alternative immunization strategies may avert more influenza-associated disease in countries where influenza virus transmission occurs throughout the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith L. McMorrow
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Gideon O. Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Obor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - Joshua A. Mott
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph S. Bresee
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Carrie Reed
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Talla Nzussouo N, Duque J, Adedeji AA, Coulibaly D, Sow S, Tarnagda Z, Maman I, Lagare A, Makaya S, Elkory MB, Kadjo Adje H, Shilo PA, Tamboura B, Cisse A, Badziklou K, Maïnassara HB, Bara AO, Keita AM, Williams T, Moen A, Widdowson MA, McMorrow M. Epidemiology of influenza in West Africa after the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, 2010-2012. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:745. [PMID: 29202715 PMCID: PMC5716025 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2839-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Over the last decade, capacity for influenza surveillance and research in West Africa has strengthened. Data from these surveillance systems showed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 circulated in West Africa later than in other regions of the continent. Methods We contacted 11 West African countries to collect information about their influenza surveillance systems (number of sites, type of surveillance, sampling strategy, populations sampled, case definitions used, number of specimens collected and number of specimens positive for influenza viruses) for the time period January 2010 through December 2012. Results Of the 11 countries contacted, 8 responded: Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo. Countries used standard World Health Organization (WHO) case definitions for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) or slight variations thereof. There were 70 surveillance sites: 26 SARI and 44 ILI. Seven countries conducted SARI surveillance and collected 3114 specimens of which 209 (7%) were positive for influenza viruses. Among influenza-positive SARI patients, 132 (63%) were influenza A [68 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 64 influenza A(H3N2)] and 77 (37%) were influenza B. All eight countries conducted ILI surveillance and collected 20,375 specimens, of which 2278 (11%) were positive for influenza viruses. Among influenza-positive ILI patients, 1431 (63%) were influenza A [820 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 611 influenza A(H3N2)] and 847 (37%) were influenza B. A majority of SARI and ILI case-patients who tested positive for influenza (72% SARI and 59% ILI) were children aged 0–4 years, as were a majority of those enrolled in surveillance. The seasonality of influenza and the predominant influenza type or subtype varied by country and year. Conclusions Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 continued to circulate in West Africa along with influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B during 2010–2012. Although ILI surveillance systems produced a robust number of samples during the study period, more could be done to strengthen surveillance among hospitalized SARI case-patients. Surveillance systems captured young children but lacked data on adults and the elderly. More data on risk groups for severe influenza in West Africa are needed to help shape influenza prevention and clinical management policies and guidelines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-017-2839-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ndahwouh Talla Nzussouo
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,CTS Global Inc., California, El Segundo, USA. .,Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box LG 481, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Jazmin Duque
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Battelle Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adebayo Abel Adedeji
- National Influenza Reference Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Daouda Coulibaly
- Institut National d'Hygiene Publique (INHP), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Samba Sow
- Centre National d'Appui à la Lutte Contre la Maladie (CNAM), Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali (CVD), Bamako, Mali
| | - Zekiba Tarnagda
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Adamou Lagare
- Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire (CERMES), Niamey, Niger
| | - Sonia Makaya
- Influenza National Reference Laboratory Lakka, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Paul Alhassan Shilo
- National Influenza Reference Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Boubou Tamboura
- Centre National d'Appui à la Lutte Contre la Maladie (CNAM), Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali (CVD), Bamako, Mali
| | - Assana Cisse
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de Santé (IRSS), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | - Ahmed Ould Bara
- Institut National Recherche en Sante Publique (INRSP), Nouakchott, Mauritanie
| | - Adama Mamby Keita
- Centre National d'Appui à la Lutte Contre la Maladie (CNAM), Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali (CVD), Bamako, Mali
| | - Thelma Williams
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ann Moen
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Meredith McMorrow
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,U.S. Public Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA
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Emukule GO, Spreeuwenberg P, Chaves SS, Mott JA, Tempia S, Bigogo G, Nyawanda B, Nyaguara A, Widdowson MA, van der Velden K, Paget JW. Estimating influenza and respiratory syncytial virus-associated mortality in Western Kenya using health and demographic surveillance system data, 2007-2013. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180890. [PMID: 28686692 PMCID: PMC5501643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated mortality has not been well-established in tropical Africa. Methods We used the negative binomial regression method and the rate-difference method (i.e. deaths during low and high influenza/RSV activity months), to estimate excess mortality attributable to influenza and RSV using verbal autopsy data collected through a health and demographic surveillance system in Western Kenya, 2007–2013. Excess mortality rates were calculated for a) all-cause mortality, b) respiratory deaths (including pneumonia), c) HIV-related deaths, and d) pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) related deaths. Results Using the negative binomial regression method, the mean annual all-cause excess mortality rate associated with influenza and RSV was 14.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0–93.3) and 17.1 (95% CI 0.0–111.5) per 100,000 person-years (PY) respectively; and 10.5 (95% CI 0.0–28.5) and 7.3 (95% CI 0.0–27.3) per 100,000 PY for respiratory deaths, respectively. Highest mortality rates associated with influenza were among ≥50 years, particularly among persons with TB (41.6[95% CI 0.0–122.7]); and with RSV were among <5 years. Using the rate-difference method, the excess mortality rate for influenza and RSV was 44.8 (95% CI 36.8–54.4) and 19.7 (95% CI 14.7–26.5) per 100,000 PY, respectively, for all-cause deaths; and 9.6 (95% CI 6.3–14.7) and 6.6 (95% CI 3.9–11.0) per 100,000 PY, respectively, for respiratory deaths. Conclusions Our study shows a substantial excess mortality associated with influenza and RSV in Western Kenya, especially among children <5 years and older persons with TB, supporting recommendations for influenza vaccination and efforts to develop RSV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon O. Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
- Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Primary and Community care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter Spreeuwenberg
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra S. Chaves
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Joshua A. Mott
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- US Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stefano Tempia
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Center for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Marc-Alain Widdowson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Koos van der Velden
- Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Primary and Community care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - John W. Paget
- Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Primary and Community care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Ndegwa LK, Emukule G, Uyeki TM, Mailu E, Chaves SS, Widdowson MA, Lewa BV, Muiruri FK, Omoth P, Fields B, Mott JA. Evaluation of the point-of-care Becton Dickinson Veritor™ Rapid influenza diagnostic test in Kenya, 2013-2014. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:60. [PMID: 28077093 PMCID: PMC5225564 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-2131-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We evaluated the performance of the Becton Dickinson Veritor™ System Flu A + B rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) to detect influenza viruses in respiratory specimens from patients enrolled at five surveillance sites in Kenya, a tropical country where influenza seasonality is variable. METHODS Nasal swab (NS) and nasopharyngeal (NP)/oropharyngeal (OP) swabs were collected from patients with influenza like illness and/or severe acute respiratory infection. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the RIDT using NS specimens were evaluated against nasal swabs tested by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). The performance parameter results were expressed as 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated using binomial exact methods, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Two-sample Z tests were used to test for differences in sample proportions. Analysis was performed using SAS software version 9.3. RESULTS From July 2013 to July 2014, 3,569 patients were recruited, of which 78.7% were aged <5 years. Overall, 14.4% of NS specimens were influenza-positive by RIDT. RIDT overall sensitivity was 77.1% (95% CI 72.8-81.0%) and specificity was 94.9% (95% CI 94.0-95.7%) compared to rRT-PCR using NS specimens. RIDT sensitivity for influenza A virus compared to rRT-PCR using NS specimens was 71.8% (95% CI 66.7-76.4%) and was significantly higher than for influenza B which was 43.8% (95% CI 33.8-54.2%). PPV ranged from 30%-80% depending on background prevalence of influenza. CONCLUSION Although the variable seasonality of influenza in tropical Africa presents unique challenges, RIDTs may have a role in making influenza surveillance sustainable in more remote areas of Africa, where laboratory capacity is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus K. Ndegwa
- DGHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
- Infection Control African Network (ICAN), Infection prevention network-Kenya (IPNET-K), Mbagathi Road off Mbagathi way, Village Market, PO Box 606, 00621 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gideon Emukule
- DGHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Timothy M. Uyeki
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Eunice Mailu
- Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sandra S. Chaves
- DGHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | - Barry Fields
- DGHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joshua A. Mott
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Epidemiology and Surveillance of Influenza Viruses in Uganda between 2008 and 2014. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164861. [PMID: 27755572 PMCID: PMC5068740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION 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.
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Peterson I, Bar-Zeev N, Kennedy N, Ho A, Newberry L, SanJoaquin MA, Menyere M, Alaerts M, Mapurisa G, Chilombe M, Mambule I, Lalloo DG, Anderson ST, Katangwe T, Cunliffe N, Nagelkerke N, McMorrow M, Widdowson MA, French N, Everett D, Heyderman RS. Respiratory Virus-Associated Severe Acute Respiratory Illness and Viral Clustering in Malawian Children in a Setting With a High Prevalence of HIV Infection, Malaria, and Malnutrition. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:1700-1711. [PMID: 27630199 PMCID: PMC5341080 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We used data from 4 years of pediatric severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) sentinel surveillance in Blantyre, Malawi, to identify factors associated with clinical severity and coviral clustering. Methods From January 2011 to December 2014, 2363 children aged 3 months to 14 years presenting to the hospital with SARI were enrolled. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for influenza virus and other respiratory viruses. We assessed risk factors for clinical severity and conducted clustering analysis to identify viral clusters in children with viral codetection. Results Hospital-attended influenza virus–positive SARI incidence was 2.0 cases per 10 000 children annually; it was highest among children aged <1 year (6.3 cases per 10 000), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected children aged 5–9 years (6.0 cases per 10 000). A total of 605 SARI cases (26.8%) had warning signs, which were positively associated with HIV infection (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–3.9), respiratory syncytial virus infection (aRR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3–3.0) and rainy season (aRR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6–3.8). We identified 6 coviral clusters; 1 cluster was associated with SARI with warning signs. Conclusions Influenza vaccination may benefit young children and HIV-infected children in this setting. Viral clustering may be associated with SARI severity; its assessment should be included in routine SARI surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Neil Kennedy
- Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Antonia Ho
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool
| | - Laura Newberry
- Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Thembi Katangwe
- Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | - Meredith McMorrow
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-South Africa, Johannesburg
| | | | | | | | - Robert S Heyderman
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, United Kingdom
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Makokha C, Mott J, Njuguna HN, Khagayi S, Verani JR, Nyawanda B, Otieno N, Katz MA. Comparison of severe acute respiratory illness (sari) and clinical pneumonia case definitions for the detection of influenza virus infections among hospitalized patients, western Kenya, 2009-2013. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016; 10:333-9. [PMID: 27219455 PMCID: PMC4910169 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) case definition is increasingly used for inpatient influenza surveillance, pneumonia is a more familiar term to clinicians and policymakers. We evaluated WHO case definitions for severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and pneumonia (Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) for children aged <5 years and Integrated Management of Adolescent and Adult Illnesses (IMAI) for patients aged ≥13 years) for detecting laboratory-confirmed influenza among hospitalized ARI patients. Sensitivities were 84% for SARI and 69% for IMCI pneumonia in children aged <5 years and 60% for SARI and 57% for IMAI pneumonia in patients aged ≥13 years. Clinical pneumonia case definitions may be a useful complement to SARI for inpatient influenza surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua Mott
- Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNairobiKenya
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)AtlantaGAUSA
| | | | | | - Jennifer R. Verani
- Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNairobiKenya
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)AtlantaGAUSA
| | | | - Nancy Otieno
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)KisumuKenya
| | - Mark A. Katz
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)AtlantaGAUSA
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Emukule GO, Mott JA, Spreeuwenberg P, Viboud C, Commanday A, Muthoka P, Munywoki PK, Nokes DJ, van der Velden K, Paget JW. Influenza activity in Kenya, 2007-2013: timing, association with climatic factors, and implications for vaccination campaigns. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016; 10:375-85. [PMID: 27100128 PMCID: PMC4947939 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on the timing of influenza circulation remains scarce in Tropical regions of Africa. OBJECTIVES We assessed the relationship between influenza activity and several meteorological factors (temperature, specific humidity, precipitation) and characterized the timing of influenza circulation and its implications to vaccination strategies in Kenya. METHODS We analyzed virologically confirmed influenza data for outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI), hospitalized for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), and cases of severe pneumonia over the period 2007-2013. Using logistic and negative binomial regression methods, we assessed the independent association between climatic variables (lagged up to 4 weeks) and influenza activity. RESULTS There were multiple influenza epidemics occurring each year and lasting a median duration of 2-4 months. On average, there were two epidemics occurring each year in most of the regions in Kenya, with the first epidemic occurring between the months of February and March and the second one between July and November. Specific humidity was independently and negatively associated with influenza activity. Combinations of low temperature (<18°C) and low specific humidity (<11 g/kg) were significantly associated with increased influenza activity. CONCLUSIONS Our study broadens understanding of the relationships between seasonal influenza activity and meteorological factors in the Kenyan context. While rainfall is frequently thought to be associated with influenza circulation in the tropics, the present findings suggest low humidity is more important in Kenya. If annual vaccination were a component of a vaccination strategy in Kenya, the months of April to June are proposed as optimal for associated campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon O Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya.,Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua A Mott
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya.,Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,US Public Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Peter Spreeuwenberg
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cecile Viboud
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Commanday
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Patrick K Munywoki
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - David J Nokes
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kilifi, Kenya.,School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Koos van der Velden
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - John W Paget
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Health Services research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Hirve S, Newman LP, Paget J, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Fitzner J, Bhat N, Vandemaele K, Zhang W. Influenza Seasonality in the Tropics and Subtropics - When to Vaccinate? PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153003. [PMID: 27119988 PMCID: PMC4847850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The timing of the biannual WHO influenza vaccine composition selection and production cycle has been historically directed to the influenza seasonality patterns in the temperate regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. Influenza activity, however, is poorly understood in the tropics with multiple peaks and identifiable year-round activity. The evidence-base needed to take informed decisions on vaccination timing and vaccine formulation is often lacking for the tropics and subtropics. This paper aims to assess influenza seasonality in the tropics and subtropics. It explores geographical grouping of countries into vaccination zones based on optimal timing of influenza vaccination. METHODS Influenza seasonality was assessed by different analytic approaches (weekly proportion of positive cases, time series analysis, etc.) using FluNet and national surveillance data. In case of discordance in the seasonality assessment, consensus was built through discussions with in-country experts. Countries with similar onset periods of their primary influenza season were grouped into geographical zones. RESULTS The number and period of peak activity was ascertained for 70 of the 138 countries in the tropics and subtropics. Thirty-seven countries had one and seventeen countries had two distinct peaks. Countries near the equator had secondary peaks or even identifiable year-round activity. The main influenza season in most of South America and Asia started between April and June. The start of the main season varied widely in Africa (October and December in northern Africa, April and June in Southern Africa and a mixed pattern in tropical Africa). Eight "influenza vaccination zones" (two each in America and Asia, and four in Africa and Middle East) were defined with recommendations for vaccination timing and vaccine formulation. The main limitation of our study is that FluNet and national surveillance data may lack the granularity to detect sub-national variability in seasonality patterns. CONCLUSION Distinct influenza seasonality patterns, though complex, could be ascertained for most countries in the tropics and subtropics using national surveillance data. It may be possible to group countries into zones based on similar recommendations for vaccine timing and formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura P. Newman
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - John Paget
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Julia Fitzner
- Global Influenza Program, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Niranjan Bhat
- Program for Appropriate Technology, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Wenqing Zhang
- Global Influenza Program, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Waiboci LW, Mott JA, Kikwai G, Arunga G, Xu X, Mayieka L, Emukule GO, Muthoka P, Njenga MK, Fields BS, Katz MA. Which influenza vaccine formulation should be used in Kenya? A comparison of influenza isolates from Kenya to vaccine strains, 2007-2013. Vaccine 2016; 34:2593-601. [PMID: 27079931 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Every year the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends which influenza virus strains should be included in a northern hemisphere (NH) and a southern hemisphere (SH) influenza vaccine. To determine the best vaccine formulation for Kenya, we compared influenza viruses collected in Kenya from April 2007 to May 2013 to WHO vaccine strains. METHODS We collected nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NP/OP) specimens from patients with respiratory illness, tested them for influenza, isolated influenza viruses from a proportion of positive specimens, tested the isolates for antigenic relatedness to vaccine strains, and determined the percentage match between circulating viruses and SH or NH influenza vaccine composition and schedule. RESULTS During the six years, 7.336 of the 60,072 (12.2%) NP/OP specimens we collected were positive for influenza: 30,167 specimens were collected during the SH seasons and 3717 (12.3%) were positive for influenza; 2903 (78.1%) influenza A, 902 (24.2%) influenza B, and 88 (2.4%) influenza A and B positive specimens. We collected 30,131 specimens during the NH seasons and 3978 (13.2%) were positive for influenza; 3181 (80.0%) influenza A, 851 (21.4%) influenza B, and 54 (1.4%) influenza A and B positive specimens. Overall, 362/460 (78.7%) isolates from the SH seasons and 316/338 (93.5%) isolates from the NH seasons were matched to the SH and the NH vaccine strains, respectively (p<0.001). Overall, 53.6% and 46.4% SH and NH vaccines, respectively, matched circulating strains in terms of vaccine strains and timing. CONCLUSION In six years of surveillance in Kenya, influenza circulated at nearly equal levels during the SH and the NH influenza seasons. Circulating viruses were matched to vaccine strains. The vaccine match decreased when both vaccine strains and timing were taken into consideration. Either vaccine formulation could be suitable for use in Kenya but the optimal timing for influenza vaccination needs to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian W Waiboci
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, P.O. Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Joshua A Mott
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, P.O. Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, USA
| | - Gilbert Kikwai
- Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Geoffrey Arunga
- Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Xiyan Xu
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, USA
| | - Lilian Mayieka
- Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gideon O Emukule
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, P.O. Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Phillip Muthoka
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Afya House, P.O. Box 30016-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - M Kariuki Njenga
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, P.O. Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Barry S Fields
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, P.O. Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, USA
| | - Mark A Katz
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, P.O. Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, USA
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Uptake and Effectiveness of a Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Children in Urban and Rural Kenya, 2010 to 2012. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2016; 35:322-9. [PMID: 26658627 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000001035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Africa, recent surveillance has demonstrated a high burden of influenza, but influenza vaccine is rarely used. In Kenya, a country with a tropical climate, influenza has been shown to circulate year-round, like in other tropical countries. METHODS During 3 months in 2010 and 2011 and 2 months in 2012, the Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya offered free injectable trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine to children 6 months to 10 years old in 2 resource-poor communities in Kenya-Kibera and Lwak (total population ~50,000). We conducted a case-control study to evaluate vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza associated with influenza-like illness and acute lower respiratory illness. RESULTS Of the approximately 18,000 eligible children, 41%, 48% and 51% received at least 1 vaccine in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively; 30%, 36% and 38% were fully vaccinated. VE among fully vaccinated children was 57% [95% confidence interval (CI): 29% to 74%] during a 6-month follow-up period, 39% (95% CI: 17% to 56%) during a 9-month follow-up period and 48% (95% CI: 32% to 61%) during a 12-month follow-up period. For the 12-month follow-up period, VE was statistically significant in children <5 years and in children 5 to <10 years old (50% and 46%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In Kenya, parents of nearly half of the eligible children <10 years old chose to get their children vaccinated with a free influenza vaccine. During a 12-month follow-up period, the vaccine was moderately effective in preventing medically attended influenza-associated respiratory illness.
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Wansaula Z, Olsen SJ, Casal MG, Golenko C, Erhart LM, Kammerer P, Whitfield N, McCotter OZ. Surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections in Southern Arizona, 2010-2014. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016; 10:161-9. [PMID: 26590069 PMCID: PMC4814863 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Binational Border Infectious Disease Surveillance program began surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) on the US–Mexico border in 2009. Here, we describe patients in Southern Arizona. Methods Patients admitted to five acute care hospitals that met the SARI case definition (temperature ≥37·8°C or reported fever or chills with history of cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath in a hospitalized person) were enrolled. Staff completed a standard form and collected a nasopharyngeal swab which was tested for selected respiratory viruses by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results From October 2010–September 2014, we enrolled 332 SARI patients. Fifty‐two percent were male and 48% were white non‐Hispanic. The median age was 63 years (47% ≥65 years and 5·2% <5 years). During hospitalization, 51 of 230 (22%) patients required intubation, 120 of 297 (40%) were admitted to intensive care unit, and 28 of 278 (10%) died. Influenza vaccination was 56%. Of 309 cases tested, 49 (16%) were positive for influenza viruses, 25 (8·1%) for human metapneumovirus, 20 (6·5%) for parainfluenza viruses, 16 (5·2%) for coronavirus, 11 (3·6%) for respiratory syncytial virus, 10 (3·2%) for rhinovirus, 4 (1·3%) for rhinovirus/enterovirus, 3 (1·0%) for enteroviruses, and 3 (1·0%) for adenovirus. Among the 49 influenza‐positive specimens, 76% were influenza A (19 H3N2, 17 H1N1pdm09, and 1 not subtyped), and 24% were influenza B. Conclusion Influenza viruses were a frequent cause of SARI in hospitalized patients in Southern Arizona. Monitoring respiratory illness in border populations will help better understand the etiologies. Improving influenza vaccination coverage may help prevent some SARI cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimy Wansaula
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Border Health, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sonja J Olsen
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mariana G Casal
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Border Health, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Catherine Golenko
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Laura M Erhart
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Natalie Whitfield
- Clinical and Molecular Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Orion Z McCotter
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Border Health, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Emukule GO, Paget J, van der Velden K, Mott JA. Influenza-Associated Disease Burden in Kenya: A Systematic Review of Literature. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138708. [PMID: 26398196 PMCID: PMC4580615 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In Kenya data on the burden of influenza disease are needed to inform influenza control policies. Methods We conducted a systematic review of published data describing the influenza disease burden in Kenya using surveillance data collected until December 2013. We included studies with laboratory confirmation of influenza, well-defined catchment populations, case definitions used to sample patients for testing and a description of the laboratory methods used for influenza testing. Studies with or without any adjustments on the incidence rates were included. Results Ten studies reporting the incidence of medically-attended and non-medically attended influenza were reviewed. For all age groups, the influenza positive proportion ranged from 5–10% among hospitalized patients, and 5–27% among all medically-attended patients (a combination of in- and outpatients). The adjusted incidence rate of hospitalizations with influenza among children <5 years ranged from 2.7–4.7 per 1,000 [5.7 per 1,000 in children <6 months old], and were 7–10 times higher compared to persons aged ≥5 years. The adjusted incidence of all medically-attended influenza among children aged <5 years ranged from 13.0–58.0 per 1,000 compared to 4.3–26.0 per 1,000 among persons aged ≥5 years. Conclusions Our review shows an expanding set of literature on disease burden associated with influenza in Kenya, with a substantial burden in children under five years of age. Hospitalizations with influenza in these children were 2–3 times higher than reported in the United States. These findings highlight the possible value of an influenza vaccination program in Kenya, with children <5 years and pregnant women being potentially important targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon O. Emukule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - John Paget
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, NIVEL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Koos van der Velden
- Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua A. Mott
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
- Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- US Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
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Fischer WA, Gong M, Bhagwanjee S, Sevransky J. Global burden of influenza as a cause of cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. Glob Heart 2014; 9:325-36. [PMID: 25667184 DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory infections, including influenza, are a leading cause of cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality worldwide. Until recently, the epidemiology of influenza was limited to resource-rich countries. Emerging epidemiological reports characterizing the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, however, suggest that influenza exerts an even greater toll in low-income, resource-constrained environments where it is the cause of 5% to 27% of all severe acute respiratory infections. The increased burden of disease in this setting is multifactorial and likely is the result of higher rates of comorbidities such as human immunodeficiency virus, decreased access to health care, including vaccinations and antiviral medications, and limited healthcare infrastructure, including oxygen therapy or critical care support. Improved global epidemiology of influenza is desperately needed to guide allocation of life-saving resources, including vaccines, antiviral medications, and direct the improvement of basic health care to mitigate the impact of influenza infection on the most vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Fischer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | | | - Satish Bhagwanjee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan Sevransky
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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