Community-based RSV Surveillance in Infant Mortality: Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling Study in Karachi, Pakistan

In order to assess the burden of respiratory syncytial virus on infant mortality in Pakistan, nasopharyngeal swab sampling and minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) will be conducted on deceased infants under 6 months of age. The specimens will be analysed by the microbiology and histopathology labs at Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Verbal consent will be obtained from parents of deceased infants, and a cause of death lab report and grief counseling services will be offered to enrolled parents who gave consent for specimen collection. The study is funded by Bill \& Melinda Gates Foundation in affiliation with Research Triangle Institute (RTI) MITS Surveillance Alliance.