title: Circulation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Morocco during 2014-2016: Findings from a sentinel-based virological surveillance system for influenza.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in young infants, little was known on its circulation types and patterns in Morocco. We conducted a prospective study using sentinel-based influenza surveillance to detect RSV by real time PCR in patients with acute respiratory infections, enrolled during two seasons (2014/15, 2015/16). During September 2014-April 2016, we obtained 1450 specimens, of which 267(18.4%) tested positive for RSV. The proportion of positive RSV infection was higher in patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infection compared to those with mild symptoms in out-patient clinics. The proportion of RSV infection was highest in children aged 0-6 months (45%; P < 0.001). Higher positivity rate was observed between months of December and March. RSV remains important viral etiological agent causing influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections especially among infants in Morocco. Further surveillance, is required to understand better the risk factors of RSV infections.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence de la Grippe, Institut National d'Hygiène, Ministère de la Santé , Rabat, Maroc.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bimouhen
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence de la Grippe, Institut National d'Hygiène, Ministère de la Santé , Rabat, Maroc.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El Falaki
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence de la Grippe, Institut National d'Hygiène, Ministère de la Santé , Rabat, Maroc.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ihazmad
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence de la Grippe, Institut National d'Hygiène, Ministère de la Santé , Rabat, Maroc.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Regragui
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence de la Grippe, Institut National d'Hygiène, Ministère de la Santé , Rabat, Maroc.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benkerroum
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence de la Grippe, Institut National d'Hygiène, Ministère de la Santé , Rabat, Maroc.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barakat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D055815:Young Adult