Influenza Update N° 503

Overview

^{Published 28 November 2024 | For reporting Week 46, ending 17 November 2024}

Influenza

• In the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity in temperate countries remained at interepidemic levels. Elevated activity was noted in a few countries in Western Africa (due to B viruses), Middle Africa (due to A(H3N2)), Western Asia (due to A(H1N1)pdm09), and in Southern and South East Asia (due to A(H1N1)pdm09 and B). Activity increased in some countries in Southern and South East Asia and was similar or declined across all other reporting countries.
• In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated in one country in Tropical South America (due mostly to B viruses) and in Eastern Africa (due to a mix of influenza viruses). Activity increased in one country in Eastern Africa but was similar or declined in all other reporting countries.

 

SARS-CoV-2

• SARS-CoV-2 activity remained elevated in many countries in Europe and in a few countries in North America, South America, Western and Eastern Africa, and South East Asia. Increased activity was reported from few countries in Europe, South East Asia, and Melanesia but was similar or declined in all other reporting countries.

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.
 

Starting with report #501, the Global Respiratory Virus Activity Weekly Update included data from sentinel surveillance and other types of systematically conducted virologic surveillance. Countries, areas, and territories use a variety of approaches to monitor respiratory virus activity and data in this report may vary from surveillance reports posted elsewhere. Analyses stratified by source of surveillance is available through Respimart.