Regional Update, Influenza. Epidemiological Week 20 (1 June 2022)

ABSTRACT

[WEEKLY SUMMARY]. North America Overall, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 activity remained at low levels. In Canada, influenza activity increased above the average of previous seasons for this period at the epidemic threshold, and SARS-CoV-2 activity remained at low levels. In Mexico, SARS-CoV-2 activity decreased. In the United States, influenza activity decreased overall except in some states with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating and SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to increase. Caribbean Influenza activity remained at low levels with predominating influenza A(H3N2), and overall, SARS-CoV-2 activity increased. Central America Overall, influenza activity remained low, and SARS-CoV-2 activity slightly increased in the subregion. In Costa Rica and Panama, SARS-CoV-2 activity and percent positivity increased compared to previous seasons for the same period. Andean Overall, influenza activity remained low with A(H3N2) predominance. SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to decline in most countries. Brazil and Southern Cone Overall, influenza with the predominance of A(H3N2) and SARS-CoV-2 activity decreased. In Chile, ILI activity continued to increase and was associated with increased activity of influenza and RSV. Global Influenza activity continued to decrease, following a peak in March 2022. In the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity decreased or remained stable. Detections were mainly influenza A(H3N2) viruses and B/Victoria lineage viruses, with some detections of (H1N1)pdm09 viruses. In Central Asia, no influenza detections were reported. Overall, in Europe, influenza continues to decline, with influenza A(H3N2) predominant. In East Asia, detections of influenza B (Victoria lineage) viruses continued to decrease in China. In contrast, influenza A(H3N2) detections increased in the Southern Provinces to make influenza A (H3N2) the predominantly detected virus in China. Elsewhere, influenza illness indicators and activity remained low. In Northern Africa, Tunisia reported a single influenza A (H3N2) detection. In Western Asia, influenza activity was low across reporting countries except for Georgia and Qatar, with elevated detections of mainly influenza A(H3N2), some influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and B viruses reported, respectively. In tropical Africa, influenza activity remained low, with influenza A(H3N2) predominating, followed by influenza B/Victoria lineage viruses. In Southern Asia, influenza virus detections were at low levels with a few influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, and influenza B detections. In South-East Asia, sporadic detections of influenza A(H3N2) were reported in Singapore, and sporadic influenza A and B detections were reported in Malaysia. Influenza detections increased in South Africa and Australia. Overall, COVID-19 positivity from sentinel surveillance increased during the reporting period to 13.0%. The highest increases were observed in the African Region, where positivity was around 20.0%. Activity from non-sentinel sites was varied. Positivity was below 10% overall and in all reporting regions except the Western Pacific Region, where positivity was above 30%. In the South-East Asia Region, positivity decreased but remained high at 24.8%. Positivity increased in the African Region and Eastern Mediterranean Region.