Investigation of an outbreak of acute respiratory disease in côte d'ivoire in april 2007.
BACKGROUND
This study aim was to investigate an outbreak of human cases of unexplained influenza-like illness and fatal acute respiratory infection (ARI), with simultaneous poultry illness and high mortality raising concerns of possible influenza A (H5N1), virus in Cote d'Ivoire in February and March 2007.


METHODS
To investigate the outbreak, we conducted active surveillance in the community and reviewed health registries. Persons meeting the case definition were asked to provide nasopharyngeal specimens. On the basis of clinical and epidemiological information, specimens were tested using conventional RT-PCR for the M gene of the influenza viruses and hemagglutinin H5 of avian influenza A (H5N1), virus; negative samples were tested for other respiratory viruses. Specimens from healthy animals were also collected.


RESULTS
Between October 2006, and February 2007, 104 suspected cases of Acute Respiratory Disease that included; 31 deaths recorded. We collected and tested 73 nasopharyngeal specimens; of which, 2, were positive for human Coronavirus OC43 and 1 for influenza C virus. No pathogens were identified in animal specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
The investigation quickly ruled out influenza A (H5N1), virus as the cause and found laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza C virus and human Coronavirus OC 43 for the first time in both Côte d'Ivoire and in a Sub-Saharan African country. However we were not able to show that these viruses caused the outbreak. Monitoring of influenza viruses must be a priority but other respiratory viruses and non-viral causes may be of interest too.
Pasteur Institute, Côte d'Ivoire 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Euloge
E
Ekaza
Pasteur Institute, Côte d'Ivoire 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Hervé Adjé
HA
Kadjo
National institute of the public health, 11 BP 202 Abidjan 11 Côte d'Ivoire.
Daouda
D
Coulibaly
National institute of the public health, 11 BP 202 Abidjan 11 Côte d'Ivoire.
Guy Georges Mayet
GG
Koutouan
Pasteur Institute, Côte d'Ivoire 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Grossmann Marie-David
GM
Coulibaly-N'golo
Pasteur Institute, Côte d'Ivoire 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Bertin
B
Kouakou
Influenza Division, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Ndahwouh
N
Talla Nzussouo
Influenza Division, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Sonja Julia
SJ
Olsen
National institute of the public health, 11 BP 202 Abidjan 11 Côte d'Ivoire.
Daniel Kouadio
DK
Ekra
Pasteur Institute, Côte d'Ivoire 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Chantal Gnankon
CG
Akoua-Koffi
Sanofi-Pasteur; 01 BP 4034 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Elia Aka
EA
Gilbernair
Pasteur Institute, Côte d'Ivoire 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01 Côte d'Ivoire.
Mireille Carmen
MC
Bretin-Dosso
epidemic; human Coronavirus OC 43; influenza virus; respiratory viruses