Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Influenza is an acute viral infection with
significant morbidity and mortality. Its occur annually each winter is
called seasonal influenza and is preventable through safe vaccine. Aim:
To know the epidemiological pattern of patients with seasonal influenza
in Iraqi sentinel sites. Methods: A cross- sectional study carried out
on records of patients who attended four sentinel sites and registered
to have influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory
infection (SARI), and laboratory investigated. Results: The total number
of cases was 1124, 36.2% of them aged 19-39 years; 53.9% were female;
74.9% lived in urban areas; 64.3% diagnosed as ILI and 35.7% as SARI.
15.9% had diabetes, 12.7% had heart disease, 4.8% had asthma, 3% had
a chronic lung disease, and 2% had hematological disease. 94.6% did
not get influenza vaccine. About COVID-19 vaccine, 69.4% did not
vaccinated, 3.5% get only 1 dose, and 27.1% completed 2 doses. Only
the SARI cases needed admission, among them 95.7% were cured. 6.5%
were diagnosed as influenza- A virus, 26.1% had COVID-19, and 67.5%
were negative. Among those with influenza, 97.3% had H3N2 subtype, and
2.7% had H1N1 pdm09. Conclusions: The percentage of influenza virus in
Iraq is relatively small. The age, classification of case (ILI or SARI),
having diabetes, heart disease, or immunological disease, and taking
COVID-19 vaccine have a significant association with influenza.
Recommendations: It’s needed for similar sentinel sites in other health
directorates and for rising health education about seasonal influenza
and its vaccine.