TITLE:
The Application of Indicators to Assess the Severity of Seasonal Influenza Epidemics in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2015 to 2019
AUTHORS:
Saleh Muhemedi, Paul Lusamba, Jean-Claude Changachanga, Leopold Lubula, Edith Nkwembe, Pelagie Babakazo
KEYWORDS:
PISA, Influenza, DRC
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases,
Vol.12 No.1,
February
25,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Among the lessons learned from the 2009 influenza
pandemic was the lack of a robust, standardized method that would allow a
timely assessment of the severity of pandemic influenza. To remedy this
deficiency, WHO has set up an evaluation tool based on the following
indicators: 1)
transmissibility, 2)
seriousness of disease, and 3) impact
of the influenza pandemic. By using this pandemic influenza severity assessment
(PISA) tool, this study aimed to evaluate the severity of DRC influenza seasons
between 2015 and 2019 to better prepare the country against the possible
occurrence of an influenza pandemic. Methods: We performed a secondary
data analysis from the DRC Influenza routine surveillance. We only explored the
transmissibility among PISA indicators. Results: The results of our
study showed that the DRC influenza seasons had two waves. The first went from
the 40th week to the 10th week, with a peak at the 50th week, and the second
wave ran from the 15th week to the 40th, with a peak at the 19th week. There
was an inter-wave period between the 10th and 15th weeks. Of all the studied
seasons, 42.8% were characterized by low intensity, 33.3% by moderate
intensity, 19.0% by high intensity, and 4.8% by extraordinary intensity. Conclusion: The use of the PISA transmissibility indicator has contributed to better
understanding influenza seasons in the Democratic Republic of Congo.