Assess the feasibility of pharmacies participating in the monitoring of Influenza-Like Illness circulating in the community in individuals aged 18 years and older

The aim of this study is to provide information on the types of viruses causing influenza like symptoms in communities in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Currently only certain GP practices and hospitals swab patients with influenza like symptoms. The results of the swabs taken help to inform our health system with information about what viruses are circulating in the community as well as helping with international efforts to design the flu vaccine for each season. We will compare the swabs taken from community pharmacies with the swabs taken at the GP clinics to see if there is a difference in the types of viruses detected. The inclusion of pharmacies into the sentinel surveillance programme is novel and these results will tell us if pharmacy swabbing is an effective way of collecting this information. Pharmacists will collect nasopharyngeal swabs (a swab taken high up from the back of the nose) from people with the symptoms of an influenza-like illness. Swabs will be collected if participants meet the eligibility requirements and has given informed consent. They will only be swabbed once during their visit and their swab will be sent to Environmental Science and Research (ESR) laboratory in Wellington for testing. These swabs will be analysed for the presence of Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, Adenovirus, Enterovirus, Metapneumovirus, Parainfluenza and Rhinovirus. 10 days post swabbing participants will be sent a survey via email/text message. This survey will provide feedback of the participants experience participating in the study and to record any changes in their health post swabbing related to the swabbing.