Manal Fahim1, Hanaa Abu El Sood Ghonim1, Wael H Roshdy2, Amel Naguib2, Nancy Elguindy2, Mohamad AbdelFatah3, Mohamed Hassany4, Amira Mohsen5, Salma Afifi6, Alaa Eid6.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Egypt started in 2000 at 8 sentinel sites geographically distributed all over the country. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 was added to the panel of viral testing by polymerase chain reaction for the first 2 patients with ILI seen at one of the sentinel sites. We report the first SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A(H1N1) virus co-infection with mild symptoms detected through routine ILI surveillance in Egypt.
OBJECTIVE: This report aims to describe how the case was identified and the demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patient.
METHODS: The case was identified by Central Public Health Laboratory staff, who contacted the ILI sentinel surveillance officer at the Ministry of Health. The case patient was contacted through a telephone call. Detailed information about the patient's clinical picture, course of disease, and outcome was obtained. The contacts of the patient were investigated for acute respiratory symptoms, disease confirmation, and outcomes.
RESULTS: Among 510 specimens collected from patients with ILI symptoms from October 2019 to August 2020, 61 (12.0%) were COVID-19-positive and 29 (5.7%) tested positive for influenza, including 15 (51.7%) A(H1N1), 11 (38.0%) A(H3N2), and 3 (10.3%) influenza B specimens. A 21-year-old woman was confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A(H1N1) virus coinfection. She had a high fever of 40.2 °C and mild respiratory symptoms that resolved within 2 days with symptomatic treatment. All five of her family contacts had mild respiratory symptoms 2-3 days after exposure to the confirmed case, and their symptoms resolved without treatment or investigation.
CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the possible occurrence of SARS-CoV-2/influenza A(H1N1) coinfection in younger and healthy people, who may resolve the infection rapidly. We emphasize the usefulness of the surveillance system for detection of viral causative agents of ILI and recommend broadening of the testing panel, especially if it can guide case management. ©Manal Fahim, Hanaa Abu El Sood Ghonim, Wael H Roshdy, Amel Naguib, Nancy Elguindy, Mohamad AbdelFatah, Mohamed Hassany, Amira Mohsen, Salma Afifi, Alaa Eid. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 28.04.2021.
BACKGROUND: Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Egypt started in 2000 at 8 sentinel sites geographically distributed all over the country. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 was added to the panel of viral testing by polymerase chain reaction for the first 2 patients with ILI seen at one of the sentinel sites. We report the first SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A(H1N1) virus co-infection with mild symptoms detected through routine ILI surveillance in Egypt.
OBJECTIVE: This report aims to describe how the case was identified and the demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patient.
METHODS: The case was identified by Central Public Health Laboratory staff, who contacted the ILI sentinel surveillance officer at the Ministry of Health. The case patient was contacted through a telephone call. Detailed information about the patient's clinical picture, course of disease, and outcome was obtained. The contacts of the patient were investigated for acute respiratory symptoms, disease confirmation, and outcomes.
RESULTS: Among 510 specimens collected from patients with ILI symptoms from October 2019 to August 2020, 61 (12.0%) were COVID-19-positive and 29 (5.7%) tested positive for influenza, including 15 (51.7%) A(H1N1), 11 (38.0%) A(H3N2), and 3 (10.3%) influenza B specimens. A 21-year-old woman was confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A(H1N1) virus coinfection. She had a high fever of 40.2 °C and mild respiratory symptoms that resolved within 2 days with symptomatic treatment. All five of her family contacts had mild respiratory symptoms 2-3 days after exposure to the confirmed case, and their symptoms resolved without treatment or investigation.
CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the possible occurrence of SARS-CoV-2/influenza A(H1N1) coinfection in younger and healthy people, who may resolve the infection rapidly. We emphasize the usefulness of the surveillance system for detection of viral causative agents of ILI and recommend broadening of the testing panel, especially if it can guide case management. ©Manal Fahim, Hanaa Abu El Sood Ghonim, Wael H Roshdy, Amel Naguib, Nancy Elguindy, Mohamad AbdelFatah, Mohamed Hassany, Amira Mohsen, Salma Afifi, Alaa Eid. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 28.04.2021.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Egypt; SARS-CoV-2; case study; coinfection; demographic; flu; infectious disease; influenza; influenza-like Illness; outcome; pandemic; surveillance; virus
Mesh：
Year: 2021
PMID： 33784634 DOI： 10.2196/27433
Source DB: PubMed Journal: JMIR Public Health Surveill ISSN： 2369-2960