Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season Launches Ahead of Summer Vacation

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published Influenza Update N° 444, indicating that some Southern Hemisphere countries reported increased influenza detections.

On May 3, 2023, the WHO reported in the Caribbean and Central American countries, influenza activity of mainly influenza B/Victoria lineage viruses was low or below baseline in most countries.

Moreover, increases in influenza activity were reported in a few countries, and activity was moderate in Jamaica.

In tropical Africa, influenza detections were low in reporting countries. Influenza A virus detections outnumbered B virus detections.

In Southern Asia, influenza activity remained low, with influenza A(H3N2) predominant, followed by B/Victoria lineage viruses. However, increased activity was reported in Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

In South-East Asia, influenza activity remained elevated mainly due to detections in Malaysia and Singapore.

However, in Malaysia, activity decreased.

But there was an increased proportion of influenza A viruses over the past several weeks, and influenza A viruses predominated during this period.

On the other hand, influenza A(H3N2) viruses remained predominant in Singapore.

In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low.

And influenza activity increased slightly in Australia and Chile, and pneumonia surveillance in South Africa. 

As of May 7, 2023, the WHO continues endorsing flu shots for the summer holiday season, wherever influenza outbreaks occur.

In the U.S., various influenza vaccines remain available at health clinics and community pharmacies. 

As of early March 2023, about 173 million flu shots had been distributed during the 2022-2023 flu season.