1. Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]
- Author
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Sheikh Jarju, Helen Brotherton, Elina Senghore, Samba Jallow, Alasana Saidykhan, Edrisa Sinjanka, Beate Kampmann, Ebrima Krubally, Lucy Affleck, Fabakary Bajo, Morris Ngor Ndene, Binta Saidy, Musa M Sanyang, Nuredin I Mohammed, Alasana Bah, Ed Clarke, Karen Forrest, Abdul K Sesay, Umberto Dalessandro, Carla Cerami, Effua Usuf, Thushan I de Silva, and Anna Roca
- Subjects
SARS-CoV-2 ,respiratory viruses ,surveillance ,Influenza like illness ,eng ,Medicine - Abstract
Background: In many countries, non-pharmaceutical interventions to limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission resulted in significant reductions in other respiratory viruses. However, similar data from Africa are limited. We explored the extent to which viruses such as influenza and rhinovirus co-circulated with SARS-CoV-2 in The Gambia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between April 2020 and March 2022, respiratory viruses were detected using RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs from 1397 participants with influenza-like illness. An assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 and a viral multiplex RT-PCR assay was used as previously described to detect influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A and B, parainfluenza viruses 1-4, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), adenovirus, seasonal coronaviruses (229E, OC43, NL63) and human rhinovirus. Results: Overall virus positivity was 44.2%, with prevalence higher in children 50 years (39.9%), p50 years (24.3%), p50 years (6.3%), p
- Published
- 2023
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