{
  "id": 19567034,
  "title": "Respiratory virus surveillance in the WHO African Region Epidemiological Week 44, October 26 to November 1 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/respiratory-virus-surveillance-in-the-who-african-region",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-11T23:01:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "WHO Africa",
    "slug": "who-africa",
    "url": "https://www.afro.who.int/publications/respiratory-virus-surveillance-who-african-region-epidemiological-week-44-october-26"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During the most recent Epidemiological Week 44, spanning October 26 to November 1, 2026, 16 countries in the WHO African Region contributed respiratory virus surveillance data. A total of 855 specimens were collected, with 828 tested for influenza. Of these, 9.3% tested positive for influenza virus, comprising 35 Influenza A and 42 Influenza B cases. Specific strains identified included Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, Influenza A (H3), Influenza B of unknown lineage, and Influenza B Victoria. On the other hand, 770 specimens processed by 11 laboratories yielded a SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate of 3.4% during the same period. Cumulatively from weeks 1 to 44, the WHO African Region's influenza laboratory network has analyzed 62,459 sentinel surveillance specimens for SARS-CoV-2, with 1,611 testing positive, resulting in a cumulative positivity rate of 2.6%.",
  "summary": "Respiratory virus surveillance in the WHO African Region Epidemiological Week 44, October 26 to November 1 2026 orlunwop@who.int Thu, 12/11/2026 - 00:01 During Epiweek 44, 16 countries in the WHO African region (WHO AFR) contributed virological data for analysis - Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo,…",
  "key_points": [
    "16 African countries reported respiratory virus data in Epidemiological Week 44.",
    "9.3% of 828 influenza-tested specimens were positive for influenza virus.",
    "SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate among 770 specimens was 3.4%."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}