Epidemiology of influenza virus types and subtypes in South Africa, 2009-2012.

ABSTRACT: To determine clinical and epidemiologic differences between influenza caused by different virus types and subtypes, we identified patients and tested specimens. Patients were children and adults hospitalized with confirmed influenza and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) identified through active, prospective, hospital-based surveillance from 2009-2012 in South Africa. Respiratory specimens were tested, typed, and subtyped for influenza virus by PCR. Of 16,005 SARI patients tested, 1,239 (8%) were positive for influenza virus. Patient age and co-infections varied according to virus type and subtype, but disease severity did not. Case-patients with influenza B were more likely than patients with influenza A to be HIV infected. A higher proportion of case-patients infected during the fi

SUBMITTER: Cohen AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4073865 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature