Influenza Update N° 504

Overview

^{Published 4 December 2024 | For reporting Week 47, ending 24 November 2024}

Influenza

• In the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity in temperate countries remained at interepidemic levels. Elevated activity was noted in parts of Western Africa (due to B viruses), Middle Africa (due to A(H3N2)), Western Asia (due to co-circulation of influenza viruses), Southern Asia (due to A(H1N1)pdm09) and in South East Asia (due to A(H1N1)pdm09 and B). Activity increased in parts of Western and Northern Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southern Asia, but was similar or declined in all other reporting countries.
• In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated in parts of Tropical South America (due mostly to B viruses) and in Eastern Africa (due mostly to B 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, and South East Asia. Increased activity was reported from parts of Europe, Temperate South America, and South East Asia 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.