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Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 37, 2017

Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 37, 2017

During epidemiological week 37, 19 laboratories (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia) in the African region influenza laboratory network contributed data for analysis . During week 37, 126 specimens were positive for influenza out of the 694 that were tested (18% positivity rate). Influenza types and subtypes identified were influenza A/H 3 (36 /126, 28%), influenza A/H1N1 pdm 09 (20/126, 16% ) and influenza B (68/126, 54% ). Two influenza A specimens remained untyped (2%).

Cumulatively* from epidemiological week 1 to 37 the AFR influenza laboratory network has collected over 25,900 specimens and tested 24,898, of which 3,511 have been positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 14%).

* adjusted for retrospective data.