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Influenza Update N° 264 30 May 2016, based on data up to 15 May, 2016

Summary Influenza activity in the continued to decrease with a predominance of influenza B virus reported. In temperate countries in the , influenza activity started to increase slightly in and South , but remained low overall in most of .

. In , influenza activity continued to decrease while the proportion of influenza B virus detections increased compared to previous reporting periods. . Influenza activity continued to decrease in and temperate with a predominance of influenza B virus activity. . In Africa, influenza activity was generally low with influenza A virus detections reported in Western Africa and influenza A and B virus detections reported in Eastern Africa. . In and the countries, influenza and other respiratory virus activity remained generally low, although levels of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus activity continued to increase in El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama. Active circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was also reported in Suriname. In Jamaica, severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) activity remained above the threshold and an increase in pneumonia cases was observed. . In tropical South America, increased influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 activity was reported in Bolivia. SARI activity was elevated in Ecuador together with a high proportion of samples positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Peru reported increased RSV detections. . In tropical countries of , influenza activity was generally low but several countries reported increased influenza virus detections. . In temperate South America, influenza-like illness (ILI) activity increased in recent weeks above seasonal thresholds. Increases in RSV activity in the and influenza A detections in Argentina and Uruguay were also reported. . In the temperate countries of and Oceania, influenza virus activity remained low. Some islands in the Pacific reported increased ILI activity. Influenza activity started to increase in South Africa with mainly influenza B viruses detected. . National Influenza Centres (NICs) and other national influenza laboratories from 90 countries, areas or territories reported data to FluNet for the time period from 02 May 2016 to 15 May 2016 (data as of 2016-05-27 03:46:29 UTC). The WHO GISRS laboratories tested more than 63813 specimens during that time period. 6224 were positive for influenza viruses, of which 2104 (33.8%) were typed as influenza A and 4120 (66.2%) as influenza B. Of the sub-typed influenza A viruses, 938 (79%) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 249 (21%) were influenza A(H3N2). Of the characterized B viruses, 268 (25%) belonged to the B-Yamagata lineage and 804 (75%) to the B- lineage.

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Countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere

North America For more information see: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3352%3A2010- influenza-situation-report&catid=2407%3Ainfluenza-other-respiratory- viruses&Itemid=2469&lang=en

Europe For more information see: https://flunewseurope.org/

Western Asia In , minimal influenza virus activity was reported. Influenza B virus continued to circulate at low levels in Qatar.

Central Asia For more information see: https://flunewseurope.org/

Northern Temperate Asia In Northern Temperate Asia, influenza activity continued to decrease to near inter-seasonal levels. Influenza B virus was predominant in the region.

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Number of specimens positive for influenza by subtype in the Northern hemisphere

Data source: FluNet (www.who.int/flunet). Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Data generated on 26/05/16

______Countries in the tropical zone

Tropical countries of Central America, the Caribbean and South America For more information see: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3352%3A2010-influenza- situation-report&catid=2407%3Ainfluenza-other-respiratory-viruses&Itemid=2469&lang=en

African region Very little influenza virus activity was reported from countries in Northern and Middle Africa. In Western Africa, influenza virus activity continued to decrease with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) co-circulating in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. In Eastern Africa, influenza activity was low with influenza A and B viruses detected. Influenza A viruses were detected in Ethiopia, , and Tanzania while influenza B virus activity was predominant in Uganda.

Tropical Asia Overall, influenza activity in southern Asia and South- was low with influenza B virus predominant. Influenza virus detections continued to decrease in Southern China and Hong Kong SAR. Influenza B virus activity increased slightly in the past two weeks in several countries in South- East Asia (Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the , Thailand and Singapore). In Cambodia and Viet Nam, influenza A and B virus detections increased in recent weeks.

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Number of specimens positive for influenza by subtype in South-East Asia

Data source: FluNet (www.who.int/flunet). Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Data generated on 26/05/16

______Countries in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere

Temperate South America Respiratory illness indicators increased in the countries in temperate South America, with some surpassing seasonal threshold levels. Influenza A virus activity increased in Argentina and Uruguay and RSV activity increased in most of the countries.

For more information see: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3352%3A2010-influenza- situation-report&catid=2407%3Ainfluenza-other-respiratory-viruses&Itemid=2469&lang=en

Number of specimens positive for influenza by subtype in Temperate South America

Data source: FluNet (www.who.int/flunet). Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Data generated on 26/05/16

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Southern Africa Influenza detections of mainly influenza B virus, started to increase above inter-seasonal levels in the past few weeks.

Oceania, Melanesia and Overall influenza activity remained low. and reported minimal detections of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Increased ILI activity was reported in some parts of the Pacific, including , American and Federated States of .

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Source of data The Global Influenza Programme monitors influenza activity worldwide and publishes an update every two weeks. The updates are based on available epidemiological and virological data sources, including FluNet (reported by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) FluID (epidemiological data reported by national focal points) and influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices and Member States. Completeness can vary among updates due to availability and quality of data available at the time when the update is developed.

Links to web pages Influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices: AMRO: www.paho.org/influenzareports EURO: http://www.flunewseurope.org/ WPRO: http://www.wpro.who.int/emerging_diseases/Influenza

Epidemiological Influenza updates: http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/latest_update_GIP_surveillance Epidemiological Influenza updates archives 2015: http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/GIP_surveillance_2015_archives Virological surveillance updates : http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/updates/summaryreport Virological surveillance updates archives : http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/updates/

Contact [email protected]

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