title: Surveillance of respiratory viruses. A 10-year laboratory-based study.
abstract: Respiratory virus isolates made at the National Institute for Virology from 1982 to 1991 were studied. An active virus surveillance programme, 'viral watch', which recruits throat swab specimens from a network of monitoring centres--mainly in the Witwatersrand and Vereeniging area with one centre in Middelburg--that represent a cross-section of the population, provided 68% of the specimens and 74% of the isolates, with an isolation rate of 25.5%. This was significantly higher than that of routine specimens (17.7%). Of the 966 isolates, influenza viruses accounted for 527 (54.7%), para-influenza for 122 (12.6%), respiratory syncytial virus for 34 (3.4%) and adenovirus for 106 (11.0%). Influenza viruses showed a definite seasonal peak between June and August whereas the other viruses, although they showed a winter predominance, were isolated throughout the year. An active virus surveillance programme is particularly valuable in monitoring respiratory virus epidemiology in the population.
authors: National Institute for Virology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: McAnerney
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Johnson
authors: B D
authors: BD
authors: Schoub
mesh_terms: D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control