PandemicPreparedness

WHO latest flu update - flu activity continued to increase in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the dominant virus.

In the Americas, flu activity continued to increase in the United States, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the most common subtype followed by influenza A(H3N2). In Canada activity decreased. Mexico continues to have high flu detections with A(H1N1)pdm09 most frequently detected.

Flu levels remained high in Europe, crossing the epidemic threshold in many countries. At least six countries of South West Europe reported high intensity. France and United Kingdom continue to report high hospitalization rates.

In Western Asia, flu activity peaked in some countries and increased in others. Armenia, Cyprus, Israel and Lebanon continued to report elevated activity. East Asia reported a decrease in activity. However, influenza like illness (ILI) and influenza activity remained above seasonal threshold in China and Hong Kong, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the dominant virus. In Japan, Mongolia and South Korea activity appeared to have returned to baseline levels. Central Asia reported elevated levels of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

In Southern Asia, influenza activity remained elevated, with influenza A viruses predominating except in Bangladesh which reported mainly influenza B viruses. In Afghanistan, SARI levels and influenza activity decreased although ILI activity remained elevated. India reported increased flu activity with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus most frequently detected followed by influenza A(H3N2) viruses.

Across the Arabian Peninsula influenza decreased with the exception of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where activity remained elevated. Influenza activity returned to low levels in Egypt, but remained elevated in Northern Africa. ILI and influenza activity due predominantly to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was high in Morocco. Influenza detections continued to increase in Tunisia with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating. In Africa, reporting countries reported low activity.

In the Caribbean and Central American countries, influenza activity and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remained low overall. However, Jamaica reported increased detections of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. In the tropical countries of South America, influenza and RSV activity were low, with the exception of Suriname.

In the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained at interseasonal levels, although in some parts of Australia influenza activity remained high, influenza A viruses were co-circulating.