Open AccessExpanding severe acute respiratory infection ( SARI ) surveillance beyond influenza: The process and data from 1 year of implementation in Vietnam
Author(s) -
Alroy Karen A.,
Do Trang Thuy,
Tran Phu Dac,
Dang Tan Quang,
Vu Long Ngoc,
Le Nga Thi Hang,
Dang Anh Duc,
Ngu Nghia Duy,
Ngo Tu Huy,
Hoang Phuong Vu Mai,
Phan Lan Trong,
Nguyen Thuong Vu,
Nguyen Long Thanh,
Nguyen Thinh Viet,
Vien Mai Quang,
Le Huy Xuan,
Dao Anh The,
Nguyen Trieu Bao,
Pham Duoc Tho,
Nguyen Van Thi Tuyet,
Pham Thanh Ngoc,
Phan Binh Hai,
Whitaker Brett,
Do Thuy Thi Thu,
Dao Phuong Anh,
Balajee S. Arunmozhi,
Mounts Anthony W.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12571
Subject(s) - rhinovirus , medicine , christian ministry , virology , virus , political science , law
Background In 2016, as a component of the Global Health Security Agenda, the Vietnam Ministry of Health expanded its existing influenza sentinel surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections ( SARI ) to include testing for 7 additional viral respiratory pathogens. This article describes the steps taken to implement expanded SARI surveillance in Vietnam and reports data from 1 year of expanded surveillance. Methods The process of expanding the suite of pathogens for routine testing by real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction ( rRT ‐ PCR ) included laboratory trainings, procurement/distribution of reagents, and strengthening and aligning SARI surveillance epidemiology practices at sentinel sites and regional institutes ( RI ). Results Surveillance data showed that of 4003 specimens tested by the RI laboratories, 20.2% (n = 810) were positive for influenza virus. Of the 3193 influenza‐negative specimens, 41.8% (n = 1337) were positive for at least 1 non‐influenza respiratory virus, of which 16.2% (n = 518), 13.4% (n = 428), and 9.6% (n = 308) tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, respectively. Conclusions The Government of Vietnam has demonstrated that expanding respiratory viral surveillance by strengthening and building upon an influenza platform is feasible, efficient, and practical.