Respiratory Virus Surveillance in the WHO African Region Epidemiological Week 17, April 22 to 28 2024
During Epidemiological week (Epiweek) 17, 21 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, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia. During week 17, specimens were 1,527 collected, and 1,524 were tested for influenza.
In Epiweek 17, 107 specimens tested positive for influenza virus (positivity of 7%), of which 89 specimens were Influenza A, and 18 specimens were Influenza B. The following influenza viruses were identified: Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (n = 63), Influenza A (H3) (n = 18), Influenza A (subtyping not performed) (n = 8), Influenza B (lineage not determined) (n = 5), and Influenza B (Victoria) (n = 13).
SARS CoV-2
In Epiweek 17, of the 1,403 specimens processed by 19 laboratories in the African Region, a total of 73 specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (positivity of 5.2%).
Cumulatively from weeks 1 to 17, the WHO AFR influenza laboratory network has tested 27,425 sentinel surveillance specimens for SARS-CoV-2, of which 1,979 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (cumulative positivity rate 7.2%).
In Epiweek 17, 107 specimens tested positive for influenza virus (positivity of 7%), of which 89 specimens were Influenza A, and 18 specimens were Influenza B. The following influenza viruses were identified: Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (n = 63), Influenza A (H3) (n = 18), Influenza A (subtyping not performed) (n = 8), Influenza B (lineage not determined) (n = 5), and Influenza B (Victoria) (n = 13).
SARS CoV-2
In Epiweek 17, of the 1,403 specimens processed by 19 laboratories in the African Region, a total of 73 specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (positivity of 5.2%).
Cumulatively from weeks 1 to 17, the WHO AFR influenza laboratory network has tested 27,425 sentinel surveillance specimens for SARS-CoV-2, of which 1,979 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (cumulative positivity rate 7.2%).