Influenza Updates: Influenza Activity Remained Low Globally, with Influenza A Viruses Predominate

Influenza: global activity remains low, driven mainly by influenza A — but regional patterns vary. In the Southern Hemisphere overall activity has declined, though levels remain elevated in parts of Oceania, some South‑East Asian countries and in tropical and temperate South America. Week‑on‑week activity was largely stable; one country in Eastern Africa reported a slight increase.

In the Northern Hemisphere influenza has been mostly low and steady across most transmission zones over recent weeks. However, rising trends were reported in a few countries in Middle Africa, Southern Asia and South‑East Asia. Influenza test positivity is elevated in some countries in Central America and the Caribbean, tropical South America, Western Africa and South‑East Asia, and exceeds 30% in parts of Southern Asia.

Subtype distribution: A(H1N1)pdm09 is predominating in the Americas, Western and Middle Africa, south‑west Europe and Oceania. A(H3N2) is the main circulating virus in Eastern and Southern Africa, northern Europe and parts of Asia. Influenza B predominates in northern Africa.

SARS‑CoV‑2: global positivity remains low and broadly stable, though a few countries report positivity above 10%. Recent increases were recorded in parts of Central America and the Caribbean, northern Africa, south‑west Europe, and western, eastern and southern Asia.

RSV: overall RSV positivity among reporting countries is low and stable, but increases have been reported in temperate South America. Elevated activity was also noted in some countries in Central America and the Caribbean and across tropical and temperate South America, with positivity exceeding 30% in parts of Central America and the Caribbean and temperate South America.

Public‑health impact: influenza A continues to drive current seasonal activity with regional differences in dominant subtypes. SARS‑CoV‑2 and RSV remain largely low at present, though several regions are experiencing localised increases. Continued local surveillance is advised to inform preparedness and response.

Data from World Health Organization

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