Prevalence of Influenza A and B Virus among Suspected COVID-19 patients by RT-PCR In Khartoum state

Abstract

This study was performed during the outbreak period of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in order to detect the prevalence of Influenza A and B viruses among suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study was conducted in the period 25 May to 8 August 2022, all Nasopharyngeal samples collected from patients with suspected COVID- 19 received in the virology lab in Jabra Hospital for Emergency and injuries Khartoum, were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by GeneXpert System , then Real Time –PCR technique was used to detect the Influenza A and B virus. A total of 100 Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from suspected COVID-19 patients participated in this study, the result showed that out of 54 (54%) COVID positive patients, there were 6 (6%) have Influenza A, 2 (2%) have Influenza B, 1 (1%) have Influenza A& B and among 46 (46%) COVID-19 negative patients there were 6 (6%) have Influenza A, 1 (1%) have Influenza B and 1 (1%) have Influenza A&B. In conclusion, the percentage of Influenza A 12 (12%) was higher prevalence among patients with COVID-19 than Influenza B 3(3%) and also showed infection with both A and B 2(2%).study highlights the importance of screening for co- infecting viruses in COVID-19 patients, given the high prevalence of Influenza viruses.