Journal
VIRUSES-BASEL
Volume 13, Issue 4, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/v13040695
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2; influenza viruses; influenza-like illness; surveillance; molecular detection; molecular epidemiology
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This paper highlights the importance of laboratory-based ILI surveillance networks in identifying and tracking the circulation of influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Patients aged 65 and above have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while children are the age groups most susceptible to influenza viruses and RSV.
This paper outlines the role of Lombardy's regional influenza reference laboratory (Northern Italy) in the surveillance of influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 circulation by analyzing 631 consecutive nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) collected from ILI outpatients by sentinel physicians during the 2019-2020 season. The samples were tested by specific real-time RT-PCRs targeting SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, and RSVs. Results: Of these NPSs, 31% tested positive for influenza viruses, 10% for SARS-CoV-2, and 7% for RSV. No coinfections were detected. Influenza viruses and RSVs circulated throughout the surveillance period until the end of February (week 9-2020), when they suddenly ceased to circulate seven weeks earlier than during the previous five influenza seasons. After the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 in our ILI outpatients at the beginning of March (week 10-2020), SARS-CoV-2 remained the only virus identified throughout the surveillance period. Patients >= 65 years had a 3.2-fold greater risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, while school-age children (5-14 years) and children < 5 years proved to be the age groups most at risk of contracting influenza viruses and RSV, respectively. Our experience demonstrates that laboratory-based ILI surveillance networks are essential for identifying SARS-CoV-2 cases that would otherwise remain undetected, in order to stop their spread within our communities.
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