The epidemiological pattern of seasonal influenza in four sentinel sites in Iraq

INTRODUCTION: Influenza is an acute viral infection with significant morbidity and mortality. It occurs annually each winter, which is called seasonal influenza, and is preventable through safe vaccine. AIM: The aim of this work is to know the epidemiological pattern of patients with seasonal influenza in Iraqi sentinel sites. METHODS: A cross‐sectional study was carried out on records of patients who attended four sentinel sites and registered to have influenza‐like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and laboratory investigated. RESULTS: The total number of cases was 1124; 36.2% of them aged 19–39 years; 53.9% were female; 74.9% lived in urban areas; 64.3% diagnosed as ILI; and 35.7% as SARI; 15.9% had diabetes, 12.7% had heart disease, 4.8% had asthma, 3% had a chronic lung disease, and 2% had hematological disease; 94.6% did not get influenza vaccine. About COVID‐19 vaccine, 69.4% were not vaccinated, 3.5% got only one dose, and 27.1% completed two doses. Only the SARI cases needed admission; among them, 95.7% were cured. 6.5% were diagnosed with influenza‐A virus, 26.1% had COVID‐19, and 67.5% were negative. Among those with influenza, 97.3% had H3N2 subtype and 2.7% had H1N1 pdm09. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of influenza virus in Iraq is relatively small. The age, classification of case (ILI or SARI), having diabetes, heart disease, or immunological disease, and taking COVID‐19 vaccine have a significant association with influenza. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is needed for similar sentinel sites in other health directorates and for rising health education about seasonal influenza and its vaccine.