Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 43, 2017
During epidemiological week 43, 16 laboratories (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zambia) in the African region influenza laboratory network contributed data for analysis. During week 43, 105 specimens were positive for influenza out of the 525 that were tested (20% positivity rate). The positivity rate for week 43 was slightly less than that observed in week 42 (23%). Influenza types and subtypes identified were influenza A/H3 (18/105, 17%), influenza A/H1N1pdm09 ( 59/105, 56%) and influenza B (25/105, 24%). Three specimens remains untyped (3%).
Cumulatively* from epidemiological week 1 to 43 the AFR influenza laboratory network has collected over 29,500 specimens and tested 28,441, of which 4,300 have been positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 15%).
*adjusted for retrospective data.