Biological Health Hazard – Influenza (human infection), Update

INFLUENZA (03): WHO GLOBAL UPDATE
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Published Date: 2017-01-26 15:35:06
Subject: PRO/EDR> Influenza (03): WHO global update
Archive Number: 20170126.4792948

Date: Mon 23 Jan 2017
Source: WHO Surveillance and monitoring, influenza updates [edited]

Influenza update – 281 (based on data up to 8 Jan 2017)
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Summary

Influenza activity in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere continued to increase, with many countries especially in East Asia and Europe having passed their seasonal threshold early in comparison with previous years. Worldwide, influenza A(H3N2) virus was predominant. The majority of influenza viruses characterized so far was similar antigenically to the reference viruses contained in vaccines for use in the 2016-2017 northern hemisphere influenza season. All tested viruses collected recently for antiviral sensitivity were susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral medications.

– In North America, influenza activity continued to increase with influenza A(H3N2) virus predominating. In the United States of America, influenza-like illness (ILI) levels were above the seasonal thresholds and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity continued to be reported.
– In Europe, influenza activity was high, with influenza A (H3N2) virus being the most prominent subtype. Persons aged over 65 years were most frequently associated with severe disease from influenza infection.
– In East Asia, high influenza activity continued to be reported with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominant.
– In Western Asia, influenza activity slightly increased.
– In Southern Asia influenza activity remained low in most of the countries. Detection of influenza A (H3N2) virus continued to be reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran and Sri Lanka.
– In South East Asia, influenza activity remained low, with influenza A(H3N2) virus and influenza B predominating in the region.
– In Northern Africa, influenza detections continued to be reported in Morocco and Tunisia with influenza A(H3N2) virus dominating.
– In West Africa, influenza continued to be detected in Ghana with B viruses dominating.
– In the Caribbean countries and Central America, influenza and other respiratory virus activity remained low in general.
– In tropical South America, influenza and other respiratory viruses activity remained low.
– In the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere, influenza activity was at inter-seasonal levels.

National Influenza Centres (NICs) and other national influenza laboratories from 97 countries, areas or territories reported data to FluNet for the time period from 26 Dec 2016 to 8 Jan 2017 (data as of 20 Jan 2017, 9:52:23 AM UTC).The WHO GISRS laboratories tested more than 165 297 specimens during that time period; 40 259 were positive for influenza viruses, of which 38 809 (96.4 percent) were typed as influenza A and 1450 (3.6 percent) as influenza B. Of the sub-typed influenza A viruses, 422 (2.6 percent) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 15893 (97.4 percent) were influenza A(H3N2). Of the characterized B viruses, 116 (49.8 percent) belonged to the B-Yamagata lineage and 117 (50.2 percent) to the B-Victoria lineage.

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[Based on this update, most of Northern hemisphere countries have reported a slight increase in influenza activity, while some have low or inter-seasonal levels of viral circulation. Among Influenza A viruses, A(H3N2) virus was dominant while for Influenza B, both B-Yamagata and B-Victoria lineages showed equivalent detection rates. – Mod.UBA]

See Also

Avian influenza, human (13): WHO, human-animal interface 20170126.4792947

Influenza (02): WHO global update, national reports 20170116.4767472
Influenza (01): Canada, H3N2v 20170102.4731669

2016
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Influenza (51): WHO global update, seasonal, country reports 20161228.4727494
Influenza (50): WHO Global update, Costa Rica, seasonal 20161217.4691931
Influenza (49): WHO, H1N1, Netherlands, risk assessment 20161212.4692892
Influenza (47): Canada (YT), Reunion, WHO global update 20161129.4655906
Influenza (46): WHO global update, seasonal 20161116.4632025
Influenza (45): WHO global update, seasonal 20161101.4598963
Influenza (44): narcolepsy, vaccine associated 20161030.4595554
Influenza (43): USA (OH) H3N2 variant outbreak 20161030.4592086
Influenza (42): Sweden, vaccine efficacy study 20161030.4592085
Influenza (41): WHO global update, seasonal 20161025.4583056
Influenza (40): Mexico (AG) seasonal surge 20161014.4559640
Influenza (39): WHO global update, seasonal 20161009.4547828
Influenza (38): WHO global update, seasonal 20160921.4505854
Influenza (37): WHO global update, seasonal 20160910.4478421
Influenza (36): Australia (WA) case surge 20160901.4454240
Influenza (35): seasonal, WHO global update 20160827.4445283
Influenza (34): seasonal, impact of influenza B 20160821.4431011
Influenza (33): Australia (NS) seasonal activity surge 20160817.4420409
Influenza (32): WHO global update, seasonal 20160810.4404144
Influenza (31): Panama, H1N1 20160806.4383921
Influenza (30): WHO global update, seasonal 20160726.4370090
Influenza (29): South America activity levels 20160716.4348875
Influenza (27): WHO global update, seasonal 20160715.4344014
Influenza (26): WHO global update, seasonal 20160630.4317933
Influenza (25): WHO global update, seasonal 20160616.4290476
Influenza (24): seasonal, WHO global update 20160603.4262742
Influenza (23): seasonal, WHO global update, USA (TN) unusual local surge 20160521.4236158
Influenza (20): seasonal, WHO global update 20160421.4173579
Influenza (19): UK, impact of vaccine mismatch, comment 20160411.4152610
Influenza (18): UK, impact of vaccine mismatch 20160410.4146702
Influenza (17): Mexico, Kosovo, Peru, case surge 20160401.4124407
Influenza (16): UK, USA, high activity 20160328.4122414
Influenza (15): seasonal, WHO global update 20160323.4114051
Influenza (14): WHO update on vaccine candidates for zoonotic influenza 20160320.4106795
Influenza (13): ECDC summary, WHO update 20160313.4090542
Influenza (12): China (HK) seasonal, influenza B 20160313.4088935
Influenza (11): flu news, sit rep, Ukraine, Georgia, H1N1, H3N2 20160223.4045191
Influenza (10): WHO update, risk assessment, Ukraine, E Europe, Middle East H1N1 20160210.4007591
Influenza (09): USA, CDC alert, Russia 20160202.3988739
Influenza (07): Egypt (BH) H1N1 20160124.3962173
Influenza (06): USA (WA), Eastern Europe, increased cases H1N1 20160123.3960019
Influenza (04): Turkey, H1N1 20160114.3936792
Influenza (01): India (MH) H1N1 20160103.3907597
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Source:
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