Outbreaks of Avian influenza (AI) in poultry were first reported in Nigeria in 2006 (1). The only human case was reported in 2007 (1). The epizootics of AI among poultry and wild birds and subsequent risk to human health highlighted the need to detect influenza viruses with pandemic potential and for establishment of Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (ISS) System. This is to aid the description of the the epidemiology and burden of seasonal human influenza, to provide information for public health decision making, for program planning and preparedness and to serve as an early warning for outbreaks of Avian or pandemic flu. Also, to characterize and monitor trends in illnesses and deaths attributable to SARI (2). Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) is one of the 4 sites for ISS in Nigeria and started functioning in 2009.
Objective
To analyze the Lagos site of the National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) system and to determine the viruses responsible for Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).