Community pharmacies could help New Zealand detect respiratory virus threats earlier by reaching people existing surveillance systems may miss.
A new study funded by Infectious Diseases Research Aotearoa (IDRA) will test whether pharmacy-based sampling can complement national surveillance done via sampling in hospitals and general practices.
The study is led by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) in collaboration with PHF Science’s specialist public health surveillance and laboratory expertise.
Existing surveillance systems provide important information about circulating respiratory viruses but may miss people who do not or cannot access general practice, including some short-term visitors.
PHF Science chief scientist Professor David Murdoch says community pharmacies are widely accessible, do not require enrolment and are often an early point of contact for people with mild illnesses.
Pharmacists at up to 15 locations around the motu will collect nasal swabs from 200 adults with influenza-like illness over 42 weeks. PHF Science, New Zealand’s World Health Organization National Influenza Centre, will test the samples for a range of respiratory viruses and results will support PHF Science’s national acute respiratory illness surveillance in real time.
The study will compare results for international visitors, GP-registered people and those not registered with a GP, to assess whether pharmacy-based surveillance can complement existing national systems.
IDRA is New Zealand’s national infectious diseases research platform, funded by the Government to boost the country’s resilience to persistent infectious diseases and future pandemic threats. It is hosted by PHF Science.
“Earlier warning gives New Zealand more time to act. As the expert Government agency for infectious disease surveillance, PHF Science brings the laboratory and surveillance expertise needed to assess whether pharmacy sampling can help boost our national programme. If successful, this approach could strengthen our response to seasonal illness and our readiness for the next pandemic,’’ says Professor Murdoch.