Respiratory Virus Surveillance in the WHO African Region Epidemiological Week 01, January 1 to 7, 2024
During Epidemiological week (Epiweek) 1, 21 countries from the 5 influenza transmission zones in the WHO African region (WHO AFR) contributed virological data for analysis - Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia. During Epiweek 1, 1,097 specimens were collected, and 1,091 were tested for influenza.
In Epiweek 1, 142 specimens tested positive for influenza virus (positivity of 13%), of which 131 specimens were Influenza A, and 11 specimens were Influenza B. The following influenza viruses were identified: Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (n = 86), Influenza A (H3) (n = 45), Influenza B (lineage not determined) (n = 1), and Influenza B (Victoria) (n = 10).