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Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 41, 2017

Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 41, 2017

During epidemiological week 41, 16 laboratories (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zambia) in the African region influenza laboratory network contributed data for analysis. During week 41, 124 specimens were positive for influenza out of the 525 that were tested (24% positivity rate). Influenza types and subtypes identified were influenza A/H3 (28/124, 23%), influenza A/H1N1pdm09 (62/124, 50%) and influenza B ( 33/124, 26%). One influenza A specimen remained untyped (1%).

Cumulatively* from epidemiological week 1 to 41 the AFR influenza laboratory network has collected over 28,100 specimens and tested 27,101, of which 3,857 have been positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 15%).

* adjusted for retrospective data .