Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 38, 2017
During epidemiological week 38, 16 laboratories (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zambia) in the African region influenza laboratory network contributed data for analysis . During week 38 , 107 specimens were positive for influenza out of the 597 that were tested (18% positivity rate). Influenza types and subtypes identified were influenza A/H3 (28/107, 26%), influenza A/H1N1pdm09 (30/107, 28%) and influenza B (47/107, 44%). Two influenza A specimens remained untyped (2%).
Cumulatively* from epidemiological week 1 to 38 the AFR influenza laboratory network has collected over 26,500 specimens and tested 25,495, of which 3,618 have been positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 14%).
* adjusted for retrospective data .