The national burden of influenza-associated severe acute respiratory illness hospitalization in Zambia, 2011-2014.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Estimates of influenza-associated hospitalization are limited in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa.

Objective

To estimate the national number of influenza-associated severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) hospitalization in Zambia.

Methods

We conducted active prospective hospital-based surveillance for SARI at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) situated in Lusaka Province during 2011-2014. Upper respiratory tract samples were tested for influenza virus using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. We estimated age-specific rates of influenza-associated SARI hospitalizations for the UTH using census and secondary data on respiratory hospitalizations following estimation approaches recommended by the World Health Org

SUBMITTER: Theo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5818337 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature