Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness through Enhanced Respiratory Virus Surveillance in Rwanda: Epidemiological Insights and Public Health Impact, 2024–2025
1
HIV/AIDs, Diseases Prevention and Control Department, Rwanda Biomedical centre, Kigali, Rwanda
2
Department of epidemiology and biostatistics, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite global recognition of respiratory virus surveillance as essential for pandemic preparedness, evidence on the extent and epidemiological patterns in Rwanda remains limited. Understanding virus circulation is crucial to guide timely interventions and strengthen health security. Rwanda’s National Laboratory Services network provides a platform for integrated influenza and COVID-19 surveillance aligned with WHO standards, which reveals opportunities to expand insights into broader respiratory virus monitoring.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted through enhanced surveillance across six (6) sentinel sites in Rwanda from December 30, 2024, to May 9, 2025. Respiratory specimens from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) were tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total of 753 specimens were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and age-stratified attack rates were computed to assess virus distribution and burden.
RESULTS:
The surveillance system achieved excellent performance with median laboratory turnaround time of 2 days and 74.2% of results delivered within three days. Overall influenza positivity rate was 8.1% (61/753), while COVID-19 low at 0.9% (7/753). Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 was the dominated strain (98.4%) which circulating and peaking in March 2025. Children aged 0-4 years experienced highest influenza attack rates (9.3%), while COVID-19 rates peaked in adults aged 45-64 years (6.0%). Geographic distribution showed significant variation across sentinel sites, with influenza positivity rates ranging from 0% (Kibagabaga DH) to 100% (CHUK), while COVID-19 rates remained consistently low across all facilities (0-1.4%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Findings informed national strategies to strengthen integrated respiratory virus surveillance, leading to expansion of sentinel sites and integration of pathogen testing within existing platforms. Rwanda’s system provides a replicable model for resource-limited settings. Age-specific patterns support targeted influenza vaccination among children, and dual pathogen surveillance is feasible for advancing pandemic preparedness and health security.
Despite global recognition of respiratory virus surveillance as essential for pandemic preparedness, evidence on the extent and epidemiological patterns in Rwanda remains limited. Understanding virus circulation is crucial to guide timely interventions and strengthen health security. Rwanda’s National Laboratory Services network provides a platform for integrated influenza and COVID-19 surveillance aligned with WHO standards, which reveals opportunities to expand insights into broader respiratory virus monitoring.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted through enhanced surveillance across six (6) sentinel sites in Rwanda from December 30, 2024, to May 9, 2025. Respiratory specimens from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) were tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total of 753 specimens were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and age-stratified attack rates were computed to assess virus distribution and burden.
RESULTS:
The surveillance system achieved excellent performance with median laboratory turnaround time of 2 days and 74.2% of results delivered within three days. Overall influenza positivity rate was 8.1% (61/753), while COVID-19 low at 0.9% (7/753). Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 was the dominated strain (98.4%) which circulating and peaking in March 2025. Children aged 0-4 years experienced highest influenza attack rates (9.3%), while COVID-19 rates peaked in adults aged 45-64 years (6.0%). Geographic distribution showed significant variation across sentinel sites, with influenza positivity rates ranging from 0% (Kibagabaga DH) to 100% (CHUK), while COVID-19 rates remained consistently low across all facilities (0-1.4%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Findings informed national strategies to strengthen integrated respiratory virus surveillance, leading to expansion of sentinel sites and integration of pathogen testing within existing platforms. Rwanda’s system provides a replicable model for resource-limited settings. Age-specific patterns support targeted influenza vaccination among children, and dual pathogen surveillance is feasible for advancing pandemic preparedness and health security.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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