A 12-month surveillance of 'flu-like infections in a sample from the population of Lagos.
5,576 people who had two or more of the following symptoms, running nose, cough, fever and crepitations/rhonchi over the chest were interviewed. 1,355 specimens of nasal and throat swabs from those interviewed were processed for viruses associated with upper respiratory tract infection. There was a sharp rise in 'flu-like symptoms in March 1976, followed by a much higher incidence from June, reaching a peak in August. Influenza A was isolated from most of the specimens collected. A few para-influenza II were also isolated. Our findings show that severe outbreaks of acute viral infection of the respiratory tract occurred during our wet season particularly around August.
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D010223:Parainfluenza Virus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology