Prevalence, Strain Circulation and Disease Burden Study of Seasonal Influenza A and B in Panama, Selected Countries of Central America and the Caribbean From the Year 2010 to 2015

Prevalence, Strain Circulation and Disease Burden of Seasonal Influenza A and B in Panama, Selected Countries of Central America and the Caribbean From the Year 2010 to 2015

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence, strain circulation and disease burden of seasonal Influenza A and B in Panama, selected countries of Central America and the Caribbean from the Year 2010 to 2015.

The Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies (ICGES) is a public health institution established in Panama dedicated to health research and disease prevention. It has been performing virological isolations of influenza and is a part of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and a direct collaborator of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

From 2010 a sentinel surveillance program is being conducted in Panama within the ICGES to collect data on influenza and other respiratory viruses using CDC guidance for Respiratory Disease Surveillance. This study aims to utilize this data source for analyzing the burden of influenza within the region.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All subjects diagnosed with seasonal influenza A and/or B, reported in the ICGES database of Panama, from January 2010 to December 2015.

Exclusion Criteria:

• N/A.