African Journal of
Health Sciences and Technology

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Health Sci. Technol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2805-4202
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJHST
  • Start Year: 2019
  • Published Articles: 34

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of circulating influenza viruses in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from National Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and Influenza-Like Illness Sentinel Surveillance (January 2021-August 2022)

Mengistu Biru Tesema
  • Mengistu Biru Tesema
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Adamu Tayachew
  • Adamu Tayachew
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Gizaw Teka
  • Gizaw Teka
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Eyasu Tigabu
  • Eyasu Tigabu
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Frehywot Eshetu
  • Frehywot Eshetu
  • Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa,
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Musse Tadesse
  • Musse Tadesse
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Wolde Shure
  • Wolde Shure
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Ayele Gebeyahu
  • Ayele Gebeyahu
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Melaku Gonta
  • Melaku Gonta
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Admikew Agune
  • Admikew Agune
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Aster Hailemariam
  • Aster Hailemariam
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Fekede Itefa
  • Fekede Itefa
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Ayinalem Alemu
  • Ayinalem Alemu
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Desalegn Geleta
  • Desalegn Geleta
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Tsegaye Berkessa
  • Tsegaye Berkessa
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Bizuwork Haile
  • Bizuwork Haile
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Fentahun Bikale Kebede
  • Fentahun Bikale Kebede
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Muluken Moges
  • Muluken Moges
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Beza Addis
  • Beza Addis
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Adane Woldeab
  • Adane Woldeab
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Lehageru Gizachew
  • Lehageru Gizachew
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Hulemenaw Delelegn
  • Hulemenaw Delelegn
  • Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Leuleseged Chekol
  • Leuleseged Chekol
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Leuel Lisanwork
  • Leuel Lisanwork
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Zelalem Mekuria
  • Zelalem Mekuria
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health initiative (GOHi), Columbus, OH, USA
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Joan-Miquel Balada
  • Joan-Miquel Balada
  • The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Pathology, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Laura Binkley
  • Laura Binkley
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health initiative (GOHi), Columbus, OH, USA
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Shu-Hua Wang
  • Shu-Hua Wang
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health initiative (GOHi), Columbus, OH, USA
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Abok Patrick
  • Abok Patrick
  • World Health Organization (WHO)-Ethiopia
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Getnet Yimer
  • Getnet Yimer
  • University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, USA
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Abiy Girmay
  • Abiy Girmay
  • World Health Organization (WHO)-Ethiopia
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Martins Livinus
  • Martins Livinus
  • World Health Organization (WHO)-Ethiopia
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Berhane Beyene
  • Berhane Beyene
  • World Health Organization (WHO)-Ethiopia
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Nebiyu Dereje
  • Nebiyu Dereje
  • ICAP at Columbia University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Hiwot Amare
  • Hiwot Amare
  • United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Herring Belinda Louise
  • Herring Belinda Louise
  • WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO)
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Berhanu Amare
  • Berhanu Amare
  • Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa,
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Jemal Aliy
  • Jemal Aliy
  • ICAP at Columbia University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Sileshi Lulseged
  • Sileshi Lulseged
  • ICAP at Columbia University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Zenebe Melaku
  • Zenebe Melaku
  • ICAP at Columbia University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Desmond E. Williams
  • Desmond E. Williams
  • Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa,
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Sharon Daves
  • Sharon Daves
  • Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa,
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Ebba Abate
  • Ebba Abate
  • The Ohio State University Global One Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Mesfin Wossen
  • Mesfin Wossen
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Aschalew Abayneh
  • Aschalew Abayneh
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Mesay Hailu
  • Mesay Hailu
  • Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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  •  Received: 11 April 2024
  •  Accepted: 25 June 2024
  •  Published: 31 July 2024

Abstract

Influenza is an acute viral respiratory tract disease in humans, often characterized by fever, headache, myalgia, prostration, coryza, sore throat and cough. Influenza infection is clinically indistinguishable from other respiratory viral diseases without laboratory confirmation. This study aims to estimate the proportion of confirmed influenza cases among patients presenting with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI) to determine its epidemiological distribution and guide surveillance and public health interventions. This study was based on analysis of surveillance data from 19 of these health facilities, January 2021 to August 2022.  Epidemiological and virologic data were collected from these facilities. laboratory testing was carried out at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the positivity of influenza tests, and results are expressed as adjusted odds ratios (AORs). Among the 6,193 patients included in this study, 11.1% tested positive for influenza. Higher influenza positivity was detected among ILI cases (26.4%, 525) compared to SARI cases (3.8%, 161). Peaks in influenza positivity occurred during February and December. The positivity of influenza tests was significantly associated with patients. The positivity rate for influenza virus during the study period was relatively high in Ethiopia. Strengthening laboratory capacity and influenza sentinel surveillance to detect influenza and other respiratory pathogens is recommended to allow public health officials to interpret national data, compare trends over time locally and globally, and to be prepared for future outbreaks. 
Key words: Influenza, SARI, sentinel site, COVID 19, Ethiopia
 
Key words: Influenza, SARI, sentinel site, COVID 19, Ethiopia

Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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