Influenza

 The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health seeking behaviours, staffing/routines in sentinel sites, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States. Various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented by Member States to reduce SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.  Countries are recommended to monitor the co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. They are encouraged to enhance integrated surveillance and step-up their influenza vaccination campaign to prevent severe disease and hospitalizations associated with influenza. Clinicians should consider influenza in differential diagnosis, especially for high-risk groups for influenza, and test and treat according to national guidance.  Global influenza activity has steadily decreased from a peak in March 2022.  In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, overall influenza activity appeared to decrease this reporting period.  In Oceania, detections of primarily influenza A(H3N2) decreased overall, but elevated influenza-like activity (ILI) was reported in some Pacific Island countries.  In Southern Africa, influenza activity decreased overall with continued detections of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3N2) and a few influenza B viruses.  In temperate South America, influenza activity decreased overall. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominated among subtyped detections.  In the Caribbean and Central American countries, low influenza activity was reported with influenza A(H3N2) predominant.  In the tropical countries of South America, influenza detections were low, and A(H3N2) detections predominated.  In tropical Africa, influenza activity continued to decrease. Influenza A viruses predominated among the reported detections.  In Southern Asia, influenza detections of predominantly A(H3N2) were at similar levels to previous weeks and remained at low levels overall.