Few Flu Viruses Found Globally

The World Health Organization's Influenza Update N° 407 reported that influenza activity remained low on November 22, 2021, with a slight increase in influenza detections noticed globally.

The National Influenza Centres and other national influenza laboratories from 100 countries, areas, or territories reported data on more than 400,727 specimens, with 3,130 (.007%) positive for influenza viruses.

Of these confirmations, 45.4% were typed as influenza A.

And of the characterized B viruses, 100% to the B/Victoria lineage.

• In the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained at inter-seasonal levels.
• In the Caribbean and Central American countries, sporadic influenza A and B virus detections.
• In tropical South America, no influenza detections were reported.
• In tropical Africa, a few influenza detections of predominately influenza A and some influenza B viruses were reported. 
• In South-East Asia, few influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B detections were reported from Malaysia.
• In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, South Africa had increased influenza activity reported out of season.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO encourages countries, especially those that have received the multiplex influenza and SARS-CoV-2 reagent kits, to continue routine influenza surveillance, test samples from influenza surveillance sites for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses where resources are available, and report epidemiological and laboratory information promptly.

A listing of U.S. FDA authorized influenza vaccines are found on this Precision Vaccinations webpage. As of November 19, 2021, about 166.9 million doses had been distributed.