Regional Update, Influenza. Epidemiological Week 16 (3 May 2022)

ABSTRACT

[WEEKLY SUMMARY]. North America Overall, influenza activity remained at low levels, SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to decline, and percent positivity for SARS-Cov2 remained at low levels. In Canada, influenza activity and SARS-CoV-2 activity remained at low levels. In Mexico, influenza activity has increased but remained below the average of previous seasons, and SARS-CoV-2 activity decreased. In the United States, influenza activity varied within regions and continued to increase in some states with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating. SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to decline. Caribbean Influenza activity remained at low levels, with predominating influenza A(H3N2), and overall, SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to decline. In Dominica, SARI activity increased and remains below baseline levels. In Puerto Rico, the percentage of visits for influenza-like illness continued to increase to high levels for this time of year. Central America Overall, influenza activity remained low and SARS-CoV-2 activity decreased in most countries. In El Salvador, influenza activity remained above-average levels at low-intensity levels. Andean Overall, influenza activity remained low with A(H3N2) predominance. SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to decline in most countries. In Ecuador, influenza activity decreased to above-average baseline levels for previous years; and RSV activity was higher than in previous years, except in 2015 and 2016. In Peru, influenza activity increased with A(H3N2) predominance. Brazil and Southern Cone Overall, influenza activity tends to decrease with the predominance of A(H3N2). SARS-CoV-2 activity decreased, except in Brazil, where SARS-CoV-2 percent positivity increased to high-intensity levels above the levels observed in 2021. Global Influenza activity remained low, with a further decrease in some areas. In the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity seems to decrease. In Europe, overall influenza activity appeared to decline, with influenza A(H3N2) predominant. In Central Asia, sporadic influenza B detections were reported in Kazakhstan. In East Asia, influenza activity with mainly influenza B/Victoria lineage detections continued to decrease in China. ILI rate and pneumonia hospitalizations remained elevated in Mongolia. Elsewhere, influenza illness indicators and activity remained low. In Northern Africa, decreased detections of influenza A(H3N2) were reported in Tunisia. In Western Asia, Georgia reported increased detections of influenza A(H3N2). In tropical Africa, influenza activity was informed mainly from Eastern Africa, with influenza A(H3N2) predominating, followed by influenza B viruses. In Southern Asia, influenza virus detections were at low levels overall. Only Malaysia reported influenza detections of influenza A(H3N2) and B viruses in South-East Asia. In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low overall. However, detections of influenza A viruses (with A(H3N2) predominant among the subtyped viruses) continued to be reported in South Africa. SARS-CoV-2 percent positivity from sentinel surveillance decreased below 10% in all WHO regions during this reporting period. Overall positivity from non-sentinel sites also showed a decreasing trend.