title: Epidemiology and Surveillance of Influenza Viruses in Uganda between 2008 and 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influenza surveillance was conducted in Uganda from October 2008 to December 2014 to identify and understand the epidemiology of circulating influenza strains in out-patient clinic attendees with influenza-like illness and inform control strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveillance was conducted at five hospital-based sentinel sites. Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal samples, epidemiological and clinical data were collected from enrolled patients. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to identify and subtype influenza strains. Data were double-entered into an Epi Info 3.5.3 database and exported to STATA 13.0 software for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 6,628 patient samples tested, influenza virus infection was detected in 10.4% (n = 687/6,628) of the specimens. Several trends were observed: influenza circulates throughout the year with two peaks; the major one from September to November and a minor one from March to June. The predominant strains of influenza varied over the years: Seasonal Influenza A(H3) virus was predominant from 2008 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2014; Influenza A(H1N1)pdm01 was dominant in 2010; and Influenza B virus was dominant in 2011. The peaks generally coincided with times of higher humidity, lower temperature, and higher rainfall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Influenza circulated throughout the year in Uganda with two major peaks of outbreaks with similar strains circulating elsewhere in the region. Data on the circulating strains of influenza and its patterns of occurrence provided critical insights to informing the design and timing of influenza vaccines for influenza prevention in tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Makerere University, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.|Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wabwire-Mangen
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Derrick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Mimbe
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erima
authors.affiliation: Makerere University, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Edison A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mworozi
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kibuuka
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Luswa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lukwago
authors.affiliation: Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bwogi
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiconco
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Titus
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tugume
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulei
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ikomera
authors.affiliation: John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malinzi
authors.affiliation: Makerere University, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasasa
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coldren
authors.affiliation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda.|Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Denis K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Byarugaba
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D011891:Rain; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral