Acute Respiratory and Influenza Viruses Circulating in Kazakhstan During 2018-2024.

Respiratory tract infections cause serious morbidity and mortality and are a major public health problem. The objective of our study was detection of the prevalence of viral respiratory diseases in the territory of Kazakhstan during the epidemic period of 2018-2024. The presence of respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal swabs was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The level of specific antibodies in the blood serum was determined by hemagglutination inhibition assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In rtRT-PCR, patients were diagnosed with non-influenza viral respiratory tract infections as well as influenza viruses A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B. Antibodies were detected against A(H1N1)pdm09, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B viruses and with simultaneous detection of both viruses. The circulation of influenza A(H3N2) viruses belonging to the 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1 clade was confirmed by whole-genome sequencing. According to the results, in the period 2018-2024, the spread of influenza A and B viruses and non-influenza respiratory tract infections was observed. The data of this study confirm the role of known causative agents of epidemic infection and indicate the need to continue monitoring their spread in Kazakhstan, which may add to the general quality of the health system.