Global Respiratory Virus Activity: Weekly Update N° 569

Overview

Globally, influenza positivity was below 10% in week 10 2026. SARS-CoV-2 activity remained low overall. Influenza predominated and positivity was just below 10% in the northern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas and in tropical areas. In the southern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 positivity were both low. Globally, RSV positivity remained stable and low. Globally, RSV positivity remained stable and low.

Influenza

Globally, influenza detections continued to decline in week 10 with the number of influenza A and B virus detections in similar proportions.

In the northern hemisphere, influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in countries in North America, Western Africa and Southern Asia. Percent positivity was over 30% in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Europe and South-East and Eastern Asia. Increases in activity were observed in a few countries in Central America and the Caribbean and in single countries in Western Africa, Western and Southern Asia.

In the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low overall although elevated positivity (>10%) was reported in a few countries in Tropical South America and in single countries in Temperate South America and South-East Asia. A small increase in activity was observed in a single country in Tropical South America.

In the zones with elevated positivity, influenza A(H3N2) was predominant in most of the zones except Central America and the Caribbean, South West Europe and Southern Asia where influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) were codominant, North America where influenza A(H3N2) and B were codominant and Western Africa where influenza B was dominant.

SARS-CoV-2

Globally, SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained stable and low, with single countries reporting elevated positivity (>10%) in Northern Europe and Temperate South America. A small increase in activity was reported in a single country in Western Asia.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Globally, RSV positivity remained stable and low, with a few countries reporting elevated positivity (>10%) in Europe and Western Asia. Percent positivity was over 30% in one country in Northern Africa. Small increases in activity were reported in single countries in Tropical South America, Northern and Eastern Africa and Northern Europe and a few countries in South West and Eastern Europe. RSV and influenza activity were both elevated in countries in South West and Northern Europe.

Severity assessment

The severity assessments here are reported from countries, areas and territories. Assessments for transmissibility can be reported based on syndromic parameters and/or influenza-specific parameters. In the northern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas, influenza-specific transmissibility was reported as low (1); transmissibility using syndromic data was reported as below seasonal threshold (23), low (6) and moderate (4). 

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.

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.