Influenza Update N° 502

Overview

^{Published 20 November 2024 | For reporting Week 45, ending 10 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), Southern Asia (due to A(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses), and South East Asia (due to A viruses). Activity was similar or declined across all reporting countries compared with last week’s report.
• 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(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses). Activity was similar or declined across all reporting countries.

 

SARS-CoV-2

• SARS-CoV-2 activity remained elevated in many countries in Europe and in a few countries in North America, the Caribbean, Temperate South America, Eastern Africa, and South East Asia. Increased activity was reported from countries in Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Temperate South America, and South East Asia, but declined or was similar 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://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-integrated_sentinel_surveillance-2022.1.