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Virological surveillance of influenza-like illness among children in Ghana, 2008-2010
Joseph H K Bonney1, Karl C Kronmann, Christina P Lindan
1Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Insights
Ghanaian children under 11 experienced a high burden of influenza-like illness (ILI) from 2008-2010. Influenza A, particularly A(H1N1)pdm09, was the predominant strain, with cases peaking in older children during May-July.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Virology
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Global influenza attack rates in children are high (10-20%), but data from Africa is scarce.
- Ghana established influenza surveillance in 2007 to monitor acute respiratory illnesses and circulating strains.
- This study focuses on influenza surveillance in children under 11 with influenza-like illness (ILI) from 2008 to 2010.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of influenza in children under 11 years old in Ghana.
- To identify the prevalent influenza strains and seasonal patterns.
- To assess the burden of influenza-associated ILI in Ghanaian children.
Main Methods:
- Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from pediatric outpatients with ILI at 22 health facilities nationwide.
- Influenza virus detection was performed using molecular assays, virus isolation, and hemagglutination assays.
- Data were analyzed for influenza positivity rates, strain prevalence, age distribution, and seasonality.
Main Results:
- Out of 2810 swabs, 636 (23%) tested positive for influenza.
- Influenza positivity increased with age, from 11% in infants (0-1 year) to 31% in children aged 5-10 years.
- Influenza A accounted for 90% of cases, with 60% being influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Activity was higher from May to July.
Conclusions:
- Children under 11 years old in Ghana carried a significant burden of influenza-associated ILI during the study period.
- Influenza surveillance in Ghana provided crucial data on pediatric influenza epidemiology.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted influenza prevention and control strategies for children in the region.
Background:
The global annual attack rate for influenza is estimated to be 10%-20% in children, although limited information exists for Africa. In 2007, Ghana initiated influenza surveillance by routine monitoring of acute respiratory illness to obtain data on circulating strains. We describe influenza surveillance in children <11 years old who had influenza-like illness (ILI) from January 2008 to December 2010.
Methods:
Oropharyngeal swabs from pediatric outpatients with ILI attending any of 22 health facilities across the country were submitted. We tested swabs for influenza virus using molecular assays, virus isolation, and hemagglutination assays.
Results:
Of the 2810 swabs, 636 (23%) were positive for influenza virus. The percentage of positives by gender was similar. The proportion of ILI cases positive for influenza increased with age from 11% (31/275) in infants (aged 0-1 years) to 31% (377/1219) among children aged 5-10 years (P < .001). The majority of cases were influenza A (90%), of which 60% were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In all 3 years, influenza activity appeared slightly higher during May through July.
Conclusions:
During the 3 years of influenza surveillance in Ghana, children aged <11 years bore a high burden of influenza-associated ILI.
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