key: cord-0795817-saabh00p
authors: Mott, Joshua A.; Fry, Alicia M.; Kondor, Rebecca; Wentworth, David E.; Olsen, Sonja J.
title: Re‐emergence of influenza virus circulation during 2020 in parts of tropical Asia: Implications for other countries
date: 2021-02-10
journal: Influenza Other Respir Viruses
DOI: 10.1111/irv.12844
sha: 5c061753d487a90b97e2cf2e6febde3df0f5bf6a
doc_id: 795817
cord_uid: saabh00p

nan

Global influenza virus circulation declined and has been below traditional seasonal levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] [2] [3] After learning of increased influenza virus circulation in some tropical Asian countries, we reviewed current surveillance data to better ascertain risk for an influenza resurgence during the 2020-2021 Northern

Hemisphere influenza season and subsequent seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We reviewed WHO influenza surveillance outputs from May 1 to December 31, 2020 (epidemiologic weeks 18-53) from tropical Asian countries that have land mass between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 4 We excluded China and Australia, which have influenza seasons that generally follow temperate seasonal patterns. We identified countries that tested surveillance specimens for influenza viruses ≥50% of the 36 weeks (19/36 weeks). For each country, we report influenza surveillance specimens tested, and the percentage positive for influenza, by type and subtype; we compared current data to historical data from 2015 to 2019.

Of 17 countries, 12 (70%) reported testing influenza surveillance specimens for more than half of the weeks during May 1 to December 31, 2020 (Table 1 ). These 12 countries tested 17,407 surveillance specimens, with 592 (3.4%) positive for influenza vi- The data presented here are a reminder that the low levels of influenza circulation seen in the Northern Hemisphere in summer 2020 may not necessarily persist into the upcoming influenza season, and influenza surveillance and prevention strategies should continue as planned and not be delayed.

H3N2 subtype, Influenza A virus, sentinel surveillance, Southeastern Asia, tropical climate

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Note:: Brunei (not in WHO FluNet), Myanmar (11 weeks), Papua New Guinea (0 weeks), Philippines (0 weeks), and Sri Lanka (3 weeks) did not report over 50% of weeks with influenza specimens processed to meet inclusion criteria (data last accessed on January 15, 2021). 

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Re-emergence of influenza virus circulation during 2020 in parts of tropical Asia: Implications for other countries