Browsing by Author "Parbie, P."
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Item Incidence of medically attended influenza among residents of Shai-Osudoku and Ningo-Prampram Districts, Ghana, May 2013 - April 2015(BioMed Central Ltd., 2016) Ntiri, M.P.; Duque, J.; McMorrow, M.L.; Frimpong, J.A.; Parbie, P.; Badji, E.; Nzussouo, N.T.; Benson, E.-M.; Adjabeng, M.; Dueger, E.; Widdowson, M.-A.; Dawood, F.S.; Koram, K.; Ampofo, W.Background: Influenza vaccination is recommended by the World Health Organization for high risk groups, yet few data exist on influenza disease burden in West Africa. Methods: We estimated medically attended influenza-associated illness rates among residents of Shai-Osudoku and Ningo Pram-Pram Districts (SONPD), Ghana. From May 2013 to April 2015, we conducted prospective surveillance for severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI) in 17 health facilities. In 2015, we conducted a retrospective assessment at an additional 18 health facilities to capture all SONPD SARI and ILI patients during the study period. We applied positivity rates to those not tested to estimate total influenza cases. Results: Of 612 SARI patients tested, 58 (9%) were positive for influenza. The estimated incidence of influenza-associated SARI was 30 per 100,000 persons (95% CI: 13-84). Children aged 0 to 4years had the highest influenza-associated SARI incidence (135 per 100,000 persons, 95% CI: 120-152) and adults aged 25 to 44years had the lowest (3 per 100,000 persons, 95% CI: 1-7) (p<0.01). Of 2,322 ILI patients tested, 407 (18%) were positive for influenza. The estimated incidence of influenza-associated ILI was 844 per 100,000 persons (95% CI: 501-1,099). The highest incidence of influenza-associated ILI was also among children aged 0 to 4ears (3,448 per 100,000 persons, 95% CI: 3,727 - 3,898). The predominant circulating subtype during May to December 2013 and January to April 2015 was influenza A(H3N2) virus, and during 2014 influenza B virus was the predominant circulating type. Conclusions: Influenza accounted for 9% and 18% of medically attended SARI and ILI, respectively. Rates were substantive among young children and suggest the potential value of exploring the benefits of influenza vaccination in Ghana, particularly in this age group.Item Virological surveillance of influenza-like illness among children in Ghana, 2008-2010(Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2012-12) Bonney, J.H.K.; Kronmann, K.C.; Lindan, C.P.; Asante, I.A.; Parbie, P.; Aboagye, J.; Amankwah, J.; Odoom, J.K.; Adjabeng, M.; Nzussouo, N.T.; Ahadzie, L.; Barthel, R.V.; Cornelius, C.; Amofah, G.; Oyofo, B.; Ampofo, W.K.Background The global annual attack rate for influenza is estimated to be 10%-20% in children, although limited information exists for Africa. In 2007, Ghana initiated influenza surveillance by routine monitoring of acute respiratory illness to obtain data on circulating strains. We describe influenza surveillance in children <11 years old who had influenza-like illness (ILI) from January 2008 to December 2010.Methods Oropharyngeal swabs from pediatric outpatients with ILI attending any of 22 health facilities across the country were submitted. We tested swabs for influenza virus using molecular assays, virus isolation, and hemagglutination assays.Results Of the 2810 swabs, 636 (23%) were positive for influenza virus. The percentage of positives by gender was similar. The proportion of ILI cases positive for influenza increased with age from 11% (31/275) in infants (aged 0-1 years) to 31% (377/1219) among children aged 5-10 years (P <. 001). The majority of cases were influenza A (90%), of which 60% were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In all 3 years, influenza activity appeared slightly higher during May through July.Conclusions During the 3 years of influenza surveillance in Ghana, children aged <11 years bore a high burden of influenza-associated ILI. © 2012 The Author.