Influenza Update N° 476

Overview

^{Published 22 May 2024 | For reporting week 19, which ended 12 May 2024}

Influenza

• In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza activity was stable or declined in most countries. Elevated activity continued to be reported in Central America and the Caribbean, due primarily to influenza A(H3N2) viruses, and in some parts of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, due primarily to influenza B viruses.
• In the Southern hemisphere, several countries in South America reported elevated influenza activity, with mainly influenza A viruses detected (A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses have been co-circulating). In Southern Africa, activity was elevated and increased relative to prior weeks, due primarily to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses.

 

SARS-CoV-2

• SARS-CoV-2 activity, as reported from sentinel surveillance in 59 countries/areas/territories that met inclusion criteria, was low overall, but elevated in some countries in South West Europe, Middle Africa, Northern Africa, Western Asia, South Asia, and South East Asia. Activity was stable in most countries, with small increases reported in South West Europe, Middle Africa, Eastern Africa, and Western 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.