Moumbeket Yifomnjou MH, Monamele GC, Njankouo-Ripa M, Fatawou Modiyinji A, Ngoupo PA, Boyomo O, Njouom R. Viral co-infection with human respiratory syncytial virus in suspected acute and severe respiratory tract infections during COVID-19 pandemic in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2020-2021.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2023;
17:e13131. [PMID:
36991539 PMCID:
PMC10060445 DOI:
10.1111/irv.13131]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) are one one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among people of all ages worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiological characteristics of respiratory viruses in acute respiratory infection (ARI) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
METHODS
Patients were monitored for respiratory symptoms as part of the surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viral infections. Patients of all ages with respiratory symptoms less than 5 days were considered. Sociodemographic and clinical data as well as nasopharyngeal samples was collected from patients. Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction methods. Virus distribution and demographic data were analyzed with R version 2.15.1.
RESULTS
From July 2020 to October 2021, 1120 patients were included. The overall viral detection rate was 32.5%, including 9.5% for RSV, 12.6% for influenza virus and 12.8% for SARS-CoV-2. Co-infections were detected in 6.9% of positive cases. While RSV and influenza virus showed seasonal trends, SARS-CoV-2 was detected throughout the study period.
CONCLUSION
We found that during COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory viruses play an important role in etiology of influenza-like illness in Cameroon, and this observation was true for patients of all ages.
Collapse