title: Viruses associated with influenza-like-illnesses in Papua New Guinea, 2010.
abstract: Influenza-like-illness can be caused by a wide range of respiratory viruses. The etiology of influenza-like-illness in developing countries such as Papua New Guinea is poorly understood. The etiological agents associated with influenza-like-illness were investigated retrospectively for 300 nasopharyngeal swabs received by the Papua New Guinea National Influenza Centre in 2010. Real-time PCR/RT-PCR methods were used for the detection of 13 respiratory viruses. Patients with influenza-like-illness were identified according to the World Health Organization case definition: sudden onset of fever (>38°C), with cough and/or sore throat, in the absence of other diagnoses. At least one viral respiratory pathogen was detected in 66.3% of the samples tested. Rhinoviruses (17.0%), influenza A (16.7%), and influenza B (12.7%) were the pathogens detected most frequently. Children <5 years of age presented with a significantly higher rate of at least one viral pathogen and a significantly higher rate of co-infections with multiple viruses, when compared to all other patients >5 years of age. Influenza B, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus were all detected at significantly higher rates in children <5 years of age. This study confirmed that multiple respiratory viruses are circulating and contributing to the presentation of influenza-like-illness in Papua New Guinea.
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Jacinta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Marinjho H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jonduo
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omena
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Siba
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Horwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Papua New Guinea; influenza; respiratory; virus