Epidemiology of A (H1N1) Pandemic 2009 Influenza Virus Infection in Erbil City/ Iraq

Abstract

Background and objectives: Influenza virus really became a challenge throughout the world. Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan, Iraq, is likely to face increasing challenges of preventing communicable diseases including influenza and outbreaks. This study aims to investigate the clinical profile & outcome of (H1N1) pandemic 2009 influenza virus infection referred influenza center in Hawler teaching hospital in Erbil city. Objectives of this study include: determining the frequency of positive cases of H1N1 among suspected cases, by demographic features, and finding out the outcome of positive cases of H1N1in terms of case fatality rate. Methods: This is a case series study, carried out in Erbil city, using medical charts of 365 suspected a (H1N1) pandemic 2009 cases referred to influenza center in Hawler teaching hospital during pandemic 2009. Positive cases diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction. The Statistical Package of Social Science software, version 19.1was used for data entry and analysis; P-value ≤ 0.05 was regarded as statistically significance. Results: The H1N1 positive cases are found during epidemic 2009; by viral culture, out of 365 suspected cases, only %12.6) 46) cases found to be positive and affected both sexes equally. Commonest symptoms are including fever (%1.9), sore throat & cough (%1.4) and rhinorrhea (%1). Case fatality rate of H1N1 was %6.5, (p value=0.007). Conclusions: H1N1 positive cases are found during epidemic 2009. Patients had minimum symptom of the disease at presentation. Only %2.17 of patients intubated and mechanically ventilated. The death rate was only %6.5. Crowded sectors inside big city may be regarded as a risk factor for disease transmission.