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Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federal Ministry of Health, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Aim During the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), many countries reported a significant decrease in the prevalence of influenza virus cases. The study aimed to characterize the flu seasons from 2018 to 2023 in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), and to assess the possible impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the influenza A and B virus circulation.
Methods The CDC Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panels were used for the detection of influenza virus A and B, and subtyping of influenza virus A (H1pdm09 virus and H3). The data for this regis-try-based retrospective study were collected at the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Unit for Clinical Microbiology (the laboratory that acts as a referral for the detection and characterization of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 in Federation B&H).
Results In the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, an equal percentage of positive cases was recorded (148/410; 36%, and 182/504; 36%, respectively). The absence of the influenza virus was observed in 2020/2021. During 2021/2022, influenza virus was detected among 19/104 (18%) patients and slightly increased in 2022/2023 (45/269; 17%). The switch of the influenza B virus lineage was observed.
Conclusion The SARS-CoV-2 virus had an impact on the prevalence of influenza virus infection among the population of the Sarajevo Canton, B&H. Since the interactions between these two viruses are not entirely clear, awareness of a possible threat to public health is crucial.
No specific funding was received for this study.
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