Influenza Virological Surveillance in the WHO African Region, Epidemiological Week 35, 2017
During epidemiological week 35, 19 laboratories (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zambia) in the African region influenza laboratory network contributed data for analysis . During week 35, 128 specimens were positive for influenza out of the 566 that were tested (23% positivity rate). This represents a similar influenza positivity rate to the previous week (week 34, 22%). Influenza types and subtypes identified were influenza A/H3 (43/128, 34%), influenza A/H1N1pdm09 (13/128, 10%) and influenza B (68/128, 53%). Four specimens remained untyped (3%).
Cumulatively* from epidemiological week 1 to 35 the AFR influenza laboratory network has collected over 24 400 specimens and tested 23 456, of which 3 260 have been positive for influenza virus (positivity rate 14%).
* adjusted for retrospective data.