Respiratory Virus Surveillance in the WHO African Region Epidemiological Week 33: August 14 to 20, 2023
During Epidemiological week 33, 20 countries in the WHO African region (WHO AFR) contributed virological data for analysis - Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia. During week 33, 1,402 specimens were collected, and 1,399 were tested for influenza.
In Epiweek 33, 101 specimens tested positive for influenza virus (positivity of 7.22%), of which 61 specimens were Influenza A, and 40 specimens were Influenza B, out of 1399 specimens processed. The following Influenza viruses were identified: Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (n = 18), Influenza A (H3) (n = 36), Influenza A (subtyping not performed) (n = 7), Influenza B (lineage not determined) (n = 29), and Influenza B (Victoria) (n = 11).
Cumulatively from weeks 1 to 33, the WHO AFR influenza laboratory network has collected 71,173 specimens and tested 70,913, of which 5,553 were positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 7.83%).