Influenza Virus Infections Among Outpatients Seeking Health Care At Selected Hospitals In Morogoro, Mbeya And Zanzibar, Tanzania

ABSTRACT 

Respiratory infections cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and are the second leading causes of death in Tanzania. Several studies involving national sentinel surveillance for influenza and epidemiology of influenza have been conducted in Tanzania. However, there is a dearth in information on the aetiology of respiratory diseases. This study screened for influenza viruses in subject with influenza-like illnesses in selected areas of Tanzania. A total of 735 subjects were recruited at hospitals in Morogoro, Mbeya and Zanzibar and the collected sample were screened for influenza viruses using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of the tested samples, 13% (93/735) were positive for influenza virus. Influenza A accounted for 56% (52/93) of the detected viruses. Majority of positive cases (19/93; 20%) were from individuals