Respiratory Virus Surveillance in the WHO African Region Epidemiological Week 16, April 15 to 21, 2024
During Epidemiological week (Epiweek) 16, 23 countries 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 the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia. During week 16, 1,463 specimens were collected, and 1,461 were tested for influenza.
In Epiweek 16, 83 specimens tested positive for influenza virus (positivity of 5.7%), of which 52 specimens were Influenza A, and 31 specimens were Influenza B. The following influenza viruses were identified: Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (n = 29), Influenza A (H3) (n = 23), Influenza B (lineage not determined) (n = 7), and Influenza B (Victoria) (n = 24).
SARS CoV-2
In Epiweek 16, of the 1,373 specimens processed by 20 laboratories in the African Region, a total of 81 specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (positivity of 5.9%).
Cumulatively from weeks 1 to 16, the WHO AFR influenza laboratory network has tested 25,938 sentinel surveillance specimens for SARS-CoV-2, of which 1,902 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (cumulative positivity rate 7.3%).
In Epiweek 16, 83 specimens tested positive for influenza virus (positivity of 5.7%), of which 52 specimens were Influenza A, and 31 specimens were Influenza B. The following influenza viruses were identified: Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (n = 29), Influenza A (H3) (n = 23), Influenza B (lineage not determined) (n = 7), and Influenza B (Victoria) (n = 24).
SARS CoV-2
In Epiweek 16, of the 1,373 specimens processed by 20 laboratories in the African Region, a total of 81 specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (positivity of 5.9%).
Cumulatively from weeks 1 to 16, the WHO AFR influenza laboratory network has tested 25,938 sentinel surveillance specimens for SARS-CoV-2, of which 1,902 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (cumulative positivity rate 7.3%).