Influenza Update N° 507

Overview

^{Published 24 December 2024 | For reporting Week 50, ending 15 December 2024}

Influenza

• In the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated in many countries in Europe (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 detected, with A(H3N2) and B viruses also detected), Central America and the Caribbean (mostly A(H3N2)), Western Africa (mostly A(H3N2) and B), Middle Africa (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2)), Northern Africa (mostly A(H3N2)), and in many countries in Asia (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 detected). Activity increased in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia and in a few countries in the Caribbean.
• In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated and increased in single countries in Tropical South America (mostly B viruses detected) and Eastern Africa (mostly B viruses). Activity increased in a few countries but was similar or declined in most reporting countries.

 

SARS-CoV-2

• SARS-CoV-2 activity remained elevated in parts of South America, Europe, Middle and Eastern Africa, and South East Asia. Increased activity was reported from parts of South West Europe and Eastern Africa 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.