Influenza-Like Illnesses in Senegal: Not Only Focus on Influenza Viruses

Abstract

Influenza surveillance in African countries was initially restricted to the identification of circulating strains. In Senegal, the network has recently been enhanced (i) to include epidemiological data from Dakar and other regions and (ii) to extend virological surveillance to other respiratory viruses. Epidemiological data from the sentinel sites is transmitted daily by mobile phone. The data include those for other febrile syndromes similar to influenza-like illnesses (ILI), corresponding to integrated approach. Also, clinical samples are randomly selected and analyzed for influenza and other respiratory viruses. There were 101,640 declared visits to the 11 sentinel sites between week 11-2012 and week 35-2013; 22% of the visits were for fever syndromes and 23% of the cases of fever syndrome were ILI. Influenza viruses were the second most frequent cause of ILI (20%), after adenoviruses (21%) and before rhinoviruses (18%) and enteroviruses (15%). Co-circulation and co-infection were frequent and were responsible for ILI peaks. The first months of implementation of the enhanced surveillance system confirmed that viruses other the influenza make large contributions to influenza-like illnesses. It is therefore important to consider these etiologies in the development of strategies to reduce respiratory infections. More informative tools and research studies are required to assess the burden of respiratory infections in developing countries.

Children under five years of age in senegal: A group highly exposed to respiratory viruses infections

“…This result is consistent with the data collected since 2012 from our sentinel surveillance of other respiratory viruses in people with influenza-like illnesses in Senegal [8]. Indeed we observed a strong activity of adenoviruses in Senegal throughout the year (data not shown).…”

“…RNA are eluted with 60μl nuclease-free water and stored at −80°C until use. A two-step multiplex real-time RT-PCR was performed with a Bio-Rad CFX-96 thermocycler (Bio-Rad Laboratories) as previously described [8] for the simultaneous testing for Influenza viruses (fluA and fluB), Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSVA and RSVB), Human adenoviruses (HAdV), Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), Human coronaviruses (229E, NL63, OC43), Human parainfluenza viruses (PIV1, -2, -3 and -4), Human rhinoviruses (HRV), Human enteroviruses (HEV) and Human bocaviruses (HBoV).…”

“…The protocol and oral consent were determined as routine surveillance activity by the Senegalese National Ethics committee and the steering committee for 4S network [8], an entity representing MoH, IPD, WHO and Clinicians in compliance with all applicable National regulations governing the protection of human subjects. Data were collected anonymously in an objective of surveillance and applicable to a molecular epidemiology studies on the detected pathogen.…”

“…Unfortunately, in some cases, they also become an important cause of death [7]. In Senegal, recent data collected in the framework of the sentinel surveillance of respiratory viruses have shown a variety of respiratory viruses circulating in the community [8]. The most common viruses associated with influenza-like illness (ILI) in patients were influenza viruses, adenoviruses (ADVs), human rhinoviruses (HRVs), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enteroviruses (EVs), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and human coronaviruses (HCoVs) 229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1.…”

Enteroviruses and Rhinoviruses: Molecular Epidemiology of the Most Influenza-Like Illness Associated Viruses in Senegal

“…13 Thus, surveillance was extended to cover other respiratory viruses in 2012. 14 The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of respiratory picornaviruses (EVs and RVs) in Senegal over a 4-year surveillance period.…”