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Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 42, 2017

Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 42, 2017

During epidemiological week 42, 15 laboratories (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zambia) in the African region influenza laboratory network contributed data for analysis. During week 42, 125 specimens were positive for influenza out of the 548 that were tested (23% positivity rate) . The positivity rate for week 42 (23%) was similar to that observed in week 41 (24%). Influenza types and subtypes identified were influenza A/H3 (36/125, 29%), influenza A/H1N1pdm09 (69/125, 55%) and influenza B (19/125, 15%). One specimen remains untyped (1%).

Cumulatively* from epidemiological week 1 to 42 the AFR influenza laboratory network has collected over 28,900 specimens and tested 27,850, of which 4,171 have been positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 15%).

*adjusted for retrospective data.