Influenza Update N° 473

Overview

^{Published 01 May 2024 | For reporting week 16, which ended 21 April 2024}

Influenza

• In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza activity continued to decline in most countries. Some countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and South East Asia are reporting some continued influenza activity. Influenza A and B viruses were detected, with influenza A viruses more commonly detected in Central America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and South East Asia.
• In the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low. Some countries in South America have seen increases in influenza activity, with mainly influenza A viruses detected. Some countries in Oceania are also reporting increased activity from prior weeks, however overall activity in that area remained low.

 

SARS-CoV-2

• SARS-CoV-2 activity, as reported from sentinel surveillance in 68 countries/areas/territories that met inclusion criteria, overall remains low. Activity is elevated and increasing in some countries in Western Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia.

WHO encourages countries, especially those that have received the multiplex influenza and SARS-CoV-2 reagent kits from GISRS, to conduct integrated surveillance of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and report epidemiological and laboratory information in a timely manner to established regional and global platforms. The guidance can be found here https://covid.comesa.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-integrated_sentinel_surveillance-2022.1.