Influenza Update N° 508

Overview

^{Published 8 January 2024 | For reporting Week 52, ending 29 December 2024}

Influenza

• In the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated and increasing 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 (co-circulation of influenza viruses), Middle Africa (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09), Northern Africa (mostly A(H3N2)), and in many countries across Asia (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 detected, with B viruses co-circulating in Western Asia).
• In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated in countries in Tropical South America (mostly B viruses detected) and elevated and increasing in Eastern Africa (mostly B viruses) and Melanesia (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09). Activity similar or declined in most reporting countries.

 

SARS-CoV-2

• SARS-CoV-2 activity remained elevated in parts of South America, Middle Africa, and Southern Asia. Increased activity was reported from single countries in South America and Southern 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.