World: Global Respiratory Virus Activity: Weekly Update N° 587

Country: World Source: World Health Organization Please refer to the attached file. Overview In week 28 2026, influenza positivity remained below 10% and SARS-CoV-2 activity remained low globally. Influenza positivity was around 10% in the tropical areas and southern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas. RSV positivity also remained low globally. Influenza Globally, influenza detections remained low in week 28 and influenza B viruses were predominant among influenza detections. In the southern hemisphere, influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in some countries in Temperate South America and in single countries in Tropical South America, Southern and Eastern Africa and South-East Asia. Small increases in activity were observed in single countries in Tropical South America and South-East Asia. In the northern hemisphere, influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in some countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Southern and South-East Asia and in single countries in Western and Middle Africa, Western and Eastern Asia. Percent positivity was over 30% in a single country in Southern Asia. Small increases in activity were observed in two countries in Central America and the Caribbean and in a single country in Western Africa. In the zones with elevated positivity, influenza A(H3N2) was predominant in Central America and the Caribbean and Middle Africa; influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was predominant in Southern Asia; and influenza B was predominant in Tropical South America and Western Africa. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3N2) were codominant in Western and South-East Asia; and influenza A and B were codominant in Temperate South America, Southern Africa and Eastern Asia. SARS-CoV-2 Globally, SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained stable and low across most reporting countries, with elevated positivity (>10%) reported in countries in Central America and the Caribbean and single countries in Tropical South America, Western and South-East Asia. Small increases in activity were observed in two countries in Central America and the Caribbean and single countries in Tropical South America, Western and South-East Asia. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) RSV positivity was elevated (>10%) in a few countries in Central America and the Caribbean and Tropical and Temperate South America. Percent positivity was over 30% in single countries in Eastern Africa and Southern Asia. A small increase in activity was observed in a single country in Central America. RSV and influenza activity were both elevated in a few countries in Central America and the Caribbean and Temperate South America and in a single country in Southern Asia. Severity assessment The severity assessments here are reported from countries, areas and territories. Assessments for transmissibility can be reported based on syndromic parameters and/or influenza-specific parameters. In the southern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas, influenza-specific transmissibility was reported as below seasonal threshold (1) and low (1); transmissibility using syndromic data was low (1). In the northern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas, influenza-specific transmissibility was reported as below seasonal threshold (10) and low (1); transmissibility using syndromic data was reported as below seasonal threshold (6). Influenza-specific transmissibility was reported as low in one country in the tropical areas.

Read full story on Reliefweb