Influenza monthly update, December 2019

In December 2019, many countries reported data to FluNet and EMFLU, namely Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The proportion of tested cases for influenza in the Region was 96.7% out of 18 910 enrolled cases; 26.6% of cases tested positive and 73.4% negative.

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Figure 1: Influenza geographic spread by type and subtypes, December 2019.

Influenza activity by sub-type

In Northern Africa, Morocco and Tunisia reported predominantly detection of influenza B viruses.

In Western Asia, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, oPt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria reported co-circulation of influenza types A and B, with influenzaA(H1N1)pdm09 circulating predominately in Iraq and Jordan. While Kuwait reported exclusive circulation of influenza B viruses and Yemen reported predominant A(H1N1)pdm circulation with sporadic A(H3N2) viruses.

In the Southern Asia transmission zone, the Islamic Republic of Iran reported high co-circulation of influenza types A and B, while Afghanistan and Pakistan reported low detection of influenza A and B.

Source of transmission zones

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Figure 2: Circulating influenza viruses by subtype

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Figure 3: Circulating influenza viruses in the EMR by subtype, November 2019

Sources

FluNet

EMFLU

Related link

Influenza monthly update, December 2019