Background Acute viral origins account for around 80% of respiratory illnesses globally. The influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus are the main viruses that cause these illnesses. All ages are susceptible to severe acute respiratory infections, which have a high rate of morbidity and mortality.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of viral etiology of respiratory infections among patients attending the Oromia Sentinel Surveillance Sites between July 2022 and April 2023.

Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. We followed the WHO case definitions for each patient with a severe acute respiratory infection. The throat-swab specimens were sent to the Adama Public Health Referral and Research Capacity Building Centre after being collected in viral transport media.

After that, the CDC Multiplex RT-PCR amplification procedures were applied to the specimens to detect the presence of viral RNA using CDC Real-Time reverse transcription PCR techniques. Data quality assurance was maintained. SPSS version 29 statistical software was used to compute all analyses. At 95% CI and P-value <0.05, inferential analysis was performed.

Results The results of this study showed that out of three hundred twenty-two throat-swab specimens collected, 100% underwent testing. Eleven (28.2%) of the thirty-nine (12.9%) who tested positive for influenza were influenza B, twenty-five (89.3%) were influenza A (H3N2), three (10.7%) were influenza A (H1N1) pdm2009.

The rates of influenza positivity by age group were 58.9%, 25.6%, 5.1%, 5.1%, and 5.1% for children under five years old, 5–14 years old, 15–49 years old, 50–64 years old, and older than or equal to 65 years old.

Three hundred and twenty-two (100%), twenty-two (7.3%), and eleven (3.6%) of the specimens examined for severe acute respiratory infections proved positive for the RSV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses, respectively. Furthermore, of the severe acute respiratory infection specimens that tested positive for Respiratory syncytial virus, 91% were from under five age groups.

Conclusion Children under five are at risk of co-infection with various viruses, potentially leading to epidemics and severe illnesses. A comprehensive approach to IPC measures is needed to reduce these risks.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

In Ethiopia, Oromia region is one of the National Influenza Sentinel surveillance sites for Severe Acute Respiratory infections studies framed with protocol and supervised by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. The Adama Public Health Research and Referral Laboratory Center conduct a routine surveillance patients fulfilling the nation protocol to address the national target. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Oromia Health Bureau Research Ethical Review Board with letter reference no/Lkk: BFI/HBTH/ 1-16/4035 written on date 21/3/2015 E.C. Unwritten consent was obtained from parents for under aged patients.

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Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes

All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.