By Michael Gwarisa
Although COVID-19 is no longer classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), in Zimbabwe, the virus still accounts for a significant number of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases across the country.
This insight emerged during a presentation of key findings from a study conducted by Mutala Trust, a leading research organization in Zimbabwe, which focused on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other respiratory illnesses. According to the research, the burden of respiratory diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children aged zero to 60 months, continues to rise.
In an interview with HealthTimes following the dissemination of the results in Harare, Professor Tariro Makadzange, the Director of Mutala Trust, noted the limited local data available on the viruses responsible for acute respiratory infections, emphasizing that their study identified three main causes.
From this study, we were able to show that this winter season—particularly during June and July—the three major causes of viral Acute Respiratory Infections were Influenza A, accounting for about 14 percent, and Influenza B, at approximately 6 percent,” said Professor Makadzange.
The data indicates that one in five children who visited large public outpatient hospitals, as well as several inpatient and outpatient clinics, were diagnosed with Influenza.
“The second major cause was COVID-19. We detected a significant amount of COVID-19 cases. Over 25 percent of the samples we tested were positive for COVID-19. Many of us think COVID-19 is over, but it still exists, even though we aren’t screening for it as frequently. It remains a leading cause of acute respiratory illness,” she explained.
The third identified cause for the rise in ARI cases was the Human Rhinovirus, commonly known as the common cold. While symptoms in adults may not require hospitalization, for the young children in the study, these infections were serious enough to prompt visits to healthcare facilities.
“We also found that many of the children were carrying Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Pneumococcal bacteria, as well as Haemophilus influenzae. It’s common to pick up these bacterial pathogens when viral infections are present. For the most part, the cause of acute respiratory illness was viral, underscoring the importance of diagnosing viral infections to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use,” added Professor Makadzange.
Professor Makadzange pointed out that the study data could have significant implications for public health policy, as it highlights often-overlooked causes of ARI among children.
“Our findings demonstrate the presence of these viral infections, including influenza, and there are steps we can take to manage infections and control their spread in the community. One of the key interventions is vaccination, particularly among vulnerable groups.”
