Expanding severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance beyond influenza: The process and data from 1 year of implementation in Vietnam

Alroy, Karen A.; Do, Trang Thuy; Tran, Phu Dac; Dang, Tan Quang; Vu, Long Ngoc; Le, Nga Thi Hang; Dang, Anh Duc; Ngu, Nghia Duy; Ngo, Tu Huy; Hoang, Phuong Vu Mai; Phan, Lan Trong; Nguyen, Thuong Vu; Nguyen, Long Thanh; Nguyen, Thinh Viet; Vien, Mai Quang; Le, Huy Xuan; Dao, Anh The; Nguyen, Trieu Bao; Pham, Duoc Tho; Nguyen, Van Thi Tuyet; Pham, Thanh Ngoc; Phan, Binh Hai; Whitaker, Brett; Do, Thuy Thi Thu; Dao, Phuong Anh; Balajee, S. Arunmozhi; Mounts, Anthony W.

After the first training, each of the RIs was provided with an external quality assessment (EQA) panel for respiratory viruses. This EQA panel provided the laboratory with a series of samples intended to mimic human respiratory specimens. While the types of pathogen were known by CDC, this information was not shared with the F I G U R E 1 A, List of the SARI sentinel sites selected at the harmonization workshop. B, Map illustrating SARI sentinel sites' geographic distribution across Vietnam and the Regional Institute that cooperates with each sentinel site via patient interview and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from each enrolled patient. In severe cases, endotracheal aspirates were also accepted as specimen types.