title: First introduction of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 and detection of respiratory viruses in pediatric patients in Central African Republic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute viral respiratory illnesses in children in sub-Saharan Africa have received relatively little attention, although they are much more frequent causes of morbidity and mortality than in developed countries. Active surveillance is essential to identify the causative agents and to improve clinical management, especially in the context of possible circulation of pandemic viruses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A prospective study was conducted in the Central African Republic (CAR) between January and December 2010 among infants and children aged 0-15 years attending sentinel sites for influenza-like illness or acute respiratory illness. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected, and one-step real-time and multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to detect respiratory viruses. Respiratory viruses were detected in 49 of the 329 (14.9%) nasopharyngeal samples: 29 (8.8%) contained influenza viruses (5 (1.5%) had pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus and 24 (7.3%) had influenza B viruses), 11 (3.3%) contained parainfluenza viruses types 1 and 3 and 9 (2.7%) contained human respiratory syncytial virus. Most cases were detected during the rainy season in the CAR. Analysis of the amplicon sequences confirmed the identity of each detected virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The influenza surveillance system in the CAR has provided valuable data on the seasonality of influenza and the circulation of other respiratory viruses. Our network could therefore play a valuable role in the prevention and control of influenza epidemics in the CAR.
authors: Virology department, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Nakouné
authors: Vianney
authors: V
authors: Tricou
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Manirakiza
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Komoyo
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Selekon
authors: Jean Chrysostome
authors: JC
authors: Gody
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Victoir
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Buchy
authors: Mirdad
authors: M
authors: Kazanji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002488:Central African Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
references: Virol J. 2012 Apr 10;9:78
references: 22490115
references: PLoS Pathog. 2011 Sep;7(9):e1002225
references: 21909272
references: Euro Surveill. 2009 Oct 22;14(42):
references: 19883549
references: Bull World Health Organ. 2012 Apr 1;90(4):301-5
references: 22511827
references: Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010 Jan;23(1):74-98
references: 20065326
references: PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e31572
references: 22745652
references: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1993 Oct;12(10):824-30
references: 8284119
references: Lancet. 2005 Mar 26-Apr 1;365(9465):1139-46
references: 15794968
references: Lancet. 2002 Nov 2;360(9343):1347-60
references: 12423980
references: Clin Microbiol Infect. 2012 Apr;18(4):366-73
references: 21923780
references: Scand J Infect Dis. 2012 Jan;44(1):9-17
references: 21867470
references: Braz J Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;12(6):476-9
references: 19287833
references: S Afr Med J. 2006 Sep;96(9 Pt 2):890-900
references: 17077915
references: Euro Surveill. 2009 Oct 22;14(42):
references: 19883551
references: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2000 May;62(5):639-43
references: 11289677
references: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Oct 23;58(41):1143-6
references: 19847148
references: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Jul;28(7):841-4
references: 19190941
references: J Virol Methods. 2005 Jun;126(1-2):53-63
references: 15847919
references: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004 Jan;23(1 Suppl):S58-64
references: 14730271
references: Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2013 May;7(3):296-303
references: 22863403
references: J Infect Dis. 2002 Jan 15;185(2):147-52
references: 11807687
references: J Infect Dev Ctries. 2011 Apr 26;5(4):270-7
references: 21537068
references: Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010 Apr;16(4):317-21
references: 20121827
references: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1997 Jan 24;46(3):62-4
references: 9026713
references: J Med Virol. 2010 Oct;82(10):1762-72
references: 20827775
references: PLoS Med. 2008 Apr 22;5(4):e86
references: 19226734
references: Lancet. 1997 Apr 26;349(9060):1191-7
references: 9130939
references: JAMA. 2010 May 26;303(20):2051-7
references: 20501927
references: Lancet. 2006 May 27;367(9524):1747-57
references: 16731270
references: Lancet. 2003 Nov 22;362(9397):1733-45
references: 14643124
references: Pediatrics. 2004 Jun;113(6):1758-64
references: 15173503
references: PLoS Med. 2009 Dec;6(12):e1000182
references: 20016686
references: J Med Virol. 2009 Apr;81(4):750-6
references: 19235872
references: J Clin Virol. 2010 Nov;49(3):211-8
references: 20855230