Epidemiology of seasonal influenza in the Middle East and North Africa regions, 2010-2016: Circulating influenza A and B viruses and spatial timing of epidemics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is a limited knowledge regarding the epidemiology of influenza in Middle East and North Africa.

Objectives

We described the patterns of influenza circulation and the timing of seasonal epidemics in countries of Middle East and North Africa.

Methods

We used virological surveillance data for 2010-2016 from the WHO FluNet database. In each country, we calculated the median proportion of cases that were caused by each virus type and subtype; determined the timing and amplitude of the primary and secondary peaks; and used linear regression models to test for spatial trends in the timing of epidemics.

Results

We included 70 532 influenza cases from seventeen countries. Influenza A and B accounted for a median 76.5% and 23.5% of cases in a season and

SUBMITTER: Caini S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5907816 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature