tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Public Health
. 2026 Mar 18:14:1788314.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1788314. eCollection 2026.
The pathogen spectrum of influenza-like illness in Guilin, China, 2023-2024
Jin Cao[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Hu Long[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wenyan Tian[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Yingli Qu[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Guoyong Mei[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Haijun Du[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Zhiqiang Xia[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mi Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Qinqin Song[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ru Cai[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Jun Han[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objective: To investigate the pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Guilin, China, from 2023 to 2024.
Methods: Between October 2023 and October 2024, 400 pharyngeal swabs were collected weekly from ILI patients and 18 respiratory pathogens were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics were analyzed.
Results: Of the 400 samples, the overall pathogen-positive rate was 74.0% (296/400). Among the detected pathogens, Influenza (Flu) was the main pathogen (44.0%, 176/400), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (12.3%, 49/400) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) (8.8%, 35/400). The detection rate is highest in the age group of 45-59 years old, reaching 91.7%. The detection rates for Flu, SARS-CoV-2, MP, HAdV, RSV, EV, and HPIV showed significant differences among age groups (p < 0.05). The peak period of positive detection rate was autumn and winter (Nov 2023-Mar 2024). Flu (H3N2 and IBV) dominated in autumn and winter, but was gradually replaced by SARS-CoV-2 and MP thereafter. By autumn 2024, SARS-CoV-2 and HRV were predominant. Co-infections were identified in 14.2% (42/296) of positive cases, with the combination of Flu and MP being the most common (19.0%).
Conclusion: During the study period, ILI in Guilin was primarily driven by Flu, which co-circulated with other pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 and MP, demonstrating distinct seasonal patterns and demographic distributions.
Keywords: acute respiratory infection; co-infection; epidemiological characteristics; influenza virus; influenza-like illness.
. 2026 Mar 18:14:1788314.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1788314. eCollection 2026.
The pathogen spectrum of influenza-like illness in Guilin, China, 2023-2024
Jin Cao[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Hu Long[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wenyan Tian[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Yingli Qu[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Guoyong Mei[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Haijun Du[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Zhiqiang Xia[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mi Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Qinqin Song[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ru Cai[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Jun Han[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41952835
- PMCID: PMC13054191
- DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1788314
Objective: To investigate the pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Guilin, China, from 2023 to 2024.
Methods: Between October 2023 and October 2024, 400 pharyngeal swabs were collected weekly from ILI patients and 18 respiratory pathogens were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics were analyzed.
Results: Of the 400 samples, the overall pathogen-positive rate was 74.0% (296/400). Among the detected pathogens, Influenza (Flu) was the main pathogen (44.0%, 176/400), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (12.3%, 49/400) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) (8.8%, 35/400). The detection rate is highest in the age group of 45-59 years old, reaching 91.7%. The detection rates for Flu, SARS-CoV-2, MP, HAdV, RSV, EV, and HPIV showed significant differences among age groups (p < 0.05). The peak period of positive detection rate was autumn and winter (Nov 2023-Mar 2024). Flu (H3N2 and IBV) dominated in autumn and winter, but was gradually replaced by SARS-CoV-2 and MP thereafter. By autumn 2024, SARS-CoV-2 and HRV were predominant. Co-infections were identified in 14.2% (42/296) of positive cases, with the combination of Flu and MP being the most common (19.0%).
Conclusion: During the study period, ILI in Guilin was primarily driven by Flu, which co-circulated with other pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 and MP, demonstrating distinct seasonal patterns and demographic distributions.
Keywords: acute respiratory infection; co-infection; epidemiological characteristics; influenza virus; influenza-like illness.