(World Health Organization)
Based on data available up to November 13, 2022
- Globally, influenza activity increased, and A(H3N2) viruses dominated.
- nfluenza activity in West Asia is still high, especially in some countries of the Arabian Peninsula.
- In Central Asia, Kazakhstan has reported an uptick in influenza activity with B/Victories dominating.
- In South Asia, influenza activity increased sharply due to higher case registrations in Iran and influenza A (H3N2) was the most frequently detected subtype in the region.
- In East Asia, influenza activity dominated by A(H3N2) virus remained stable at generally moderate levels.
- In Southeast Asia, cases of influenza A (H3N2) and influenza (B) are declining.
- In Equatorial Africa, influenza activity remained low with cases of A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses detected.
- In Europe, in general, influenza activity continued to increase and reached above the epidemic threshold in some countries where A(H3N2) viruses were responsible for most cases.
- In North American countries, positive cases of influenza and influenza-like illnesses have increased sharply in recent weeks, indicating an earlier start to the influenza season compared to pre-COVID-19 seasons. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was dominant.
- In the Caribbean and Central American countries, influenza activity caused by influenza A(H3N2) virus increased in Mexico but remained low in most other countries reporting cases.
- In tropical countries of South America, influenza case registration is low and influenza A(H3N2) virus is dominant.
- In temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere, influenza activity continued to decline in most reporting countries, except for South America where activity increased in Argentina and Chile.
- In general, in the northern hemisphere, countries intensify their campaigns to vaccinate against influenza to prevent severe complications associated with it. WHO recommends that all countries monitor the spread of influenza and COVID-19 viruses and encourage them to strengthen integrated epidemiological surveillance. Physicians should consider influenza when diagnosing respiratory conditions, especially for groups at risk of serious complications from influenza.
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