title: Virological surveillance of influenza-like illness among children in Ghana, 2008-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The global annual attack rate for influenza is estimated to be 10%-20% in children, although limited information exists for Africa. In 2007, Ghana initiated influenza surveillance by routine monitoring of acute respiratory illness to obtain data on circulating strains. We describe influenza surveillance in children <11 years old who had influenza-like illness (ILI) from January 2008 to December 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oropharyngeal swabs from pediatric outpatients with ILI attending any of 22 health facilities across the country were submitted. We tested swabs for influenza virus using molecular assays, virus isolation, and hemagglutination assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2810 swabs, 636 (23%) were positive for influenza virus. The percentage of positives by gender was similar. The proportion of ILI cases positive for influenza increased with age from 11% (31/275) in infants (aged 0-1 years) to 31% (377/1219) among children aged 5-10 years (P < .001). The majority of cases were influenza A (90%), of which 60% were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In all 3 years, influenza activity appeared slightly higher during May through July.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the 3 years of influenza surveillance in Ghana, children aged <11 years bore a high burden of influenza-associated ILI.
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Joseph H K
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bonney
authors.forename: Karl C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kronmann
authors.forename: Christina P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lindan
authors.forename: Ivy A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Asante
authors.forename: Prince
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parbie
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aboagye
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amankwah
authors.forename: John Kofi
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Odoom
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adjabeng
authors.forename: Ndahwouh Talla
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nzussouo
authors.forename: Lawson
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahadzie
authors.forename: Robert Vince
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Barthel
authors.forename: Clair
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amofah
authors.forename: Buhari
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oyofo
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ampofo
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000821:virology; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014776:Virus Cultivation
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral