title: Sentinel surveillance of influenza in Burkina Faso: identification of circulating strains during 2010-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although influenza surveillance has recently been improved in some sub-Saharan African countries, no information is yet available from Burkina Faso.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our study was the first to determine the prevalence of influenza viruses circulating in Burkina Faso through a sentinel surveillance system.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted sentinel surveillance with oropharyngeal (OP) swabs collected from outpatients (1 month to 83 years) from six sites in Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, among patients meeting the WHO/CDC case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI; fever ≥38°C, and cough and/or sore throat in the absence of other diagnosis) from July 2010 to May 2012. Influenza viruses were detected by real-time RT-PCR using CDC primers, probes, and protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first three ILI cases were enrolled each day; of 881 outpatients with ILI enrolled and sampled, 58 (6.6%) tested positive for influenza viruses (29 influenza A and 29 influenza B). Among the influenza A viruses, 55.2% (16/29) were influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 and 44.8% (13/29) were seasonal A (H3N2). No cases of seasonal A/H1N1 were detected. Patients within 0-5 years and 6-14 years were the most affected, comprising 41.4% and 22.4% laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, respectively. Influenza infections occurred during both the dry, dusty Harmattan months from November to March and the rainy season from June to October with peaks in January and August.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This surveillance was the first confirming the circulation of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, A/H3N2, and influenza B viruses in humans in Burkina Faso.
authors: Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Centre National de Référence pour la Grippe, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; West African Master Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (WA FELTP), University of Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors: Zékiba
authors: Z
authors: Tarnagda
authors: Issaka
authors: I
authors: Yougbaré
authors: Abdoul K
authors: AK
authors: Ilboudo
authors: Thérèse
authors: T
authors: Kagoné
authors: Armel M
authors: AM
authors: Sanou
authors: Assana
authors: A
authors: Cissé
authors: Isaïe
authors: I
authors: Médah
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Yelbéogo
authors: Ndahwouh Talla
authors: NT
authors: Nzussouo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burkina Faso; influenza-like illness; sentinel surveillance