National Influenza Centre

Introduction

The National Public Health Laboratory hosts National Influenza Centre (NIC) for the United Republic of Tanzania. The NIC was designated by the Ministry of Health in 2008 when influenza surveillance was started in the country, and subsequently recognized by WHO in 2014. The NIC is participating in the work of Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) under the WHO terms of reference, with additional obligations to serve as; a reference laboratory for influenza; a technical resource on influenza-related matters for our national authority; a key point of contact to WHO on issues related to influenza in the country. The NIC also adhere to international biosafety standards for work with influenza viruses, national and international regulations on the transport of dangerous goods (Class/division 6.2)4 when shipping clinical specimens and virus isolates, meet quality requirements of international quality standards, participate in external quality assessment programmes (EQAP) provided by WHO and maintain a high level of technical expertise by participating in training provided by GISRS.

Tanzania NIC handle influenza viruses belonging to human seasonal influenza viruses where samples are collected through established influenza sentinel sites. Patients of all age groups meeting the syndromic case definition of influenza-like illness (ILI), Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) are included in the surveillance

List of tests

Influenza viruses are detected and identified by real time PCR, MDCK cell culture and Haemaglutination/haemaglutination inhibition methods. Samples for influenza surveillance are tested by multiplex PCR for other respiratory viruses and bacteria to include; - influenza A and its subtypes, influenza B, parainfluenza viruses 1,2,3,4, corona viruses SARS-COV-2, NL63, 229E, OC43, and HKU1, Humanmetapneumoviruses Aand B; rhinoviruses; respiratory syncytial viruses A and B; adeno virus; entero virus; parenchovirus; bocavirus; pneumocystis jirovecii; mycoplasma pneumonia; chlamydia pneumonia;  streptococci pneumonia;  haemophylus influenza type b; staphylococcus aureus; Moraxella catarrhalis; Bordetella spp; Klebsiella pneumonia;  legionella species and salmonella species.