Regional Update, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. Epidemiological Week 32 (16 August 2024)

[WEEKLY SUMMARY]. Regional Situation: During the last four epidemiological weeks (EW), there has been epidemic activity of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) in the Southern Cone, along with increased activity in the subregions of North America, the Caribbean, and Central America. This activity is linked to the circulation of RSV in the Southern Cone and Central America, influenza in the Caribbean, as well as SARS-CoV-2 in North America, the Caribbean, and Central America. Additionally, epidemic levels of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) have been observed in the Southern Cone, the Andean subregion, and Central America, related to positive cases of RSV, and to a lesser extent, influenza. In North America, there has been an uptick in activity related to the circulation of SARS-CoV-2. Regarding the circulation of respiratory viruses at the regional level, SARS-CoV-2 activity has increased, particularly in North America, the Caribbean, Central America, and the Andean subregion. Additionally, although influenza activity has decreased, it remains fluctuating in some Caribbean countries and the Andean subregion. RSV activity has reached epidemic levels in Central America, the Andean subregion, and the Southern Cone, and has shown an increase in the Caribbean. North America: After a rise in cases of ILI, SARI, and hospitalizations associated with respiratory viruses in recent weeks, there has been a gradual decline, although there has been a significant increase in the proportion of positive SARS-CoV-2 cases. Influenza activity has remained below the epidemic threshold in all countries. During this period, the predominant influenza viruses have been A(H3N2), followed by A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Victoria. RSV activity has stayed low. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 activity has shown an increase, reaching levels similar to those observed in the previous 2023-2024 wave. By country: • In Canada, SARS-CoV-2 activity has risen, reaching levels close to the peaks recorded in previous waves. Influenza activity remains below the epidemic threshold, while RSV activity remains low. • In Mexico, after reaching moderate levels in previous epidemiological weeks, ILI and SARI cases have shown a marked decline in the last two weeks. Most positive cases are attributable to SARS-CoV-2. Both influenza and RSV activity remain low. • In the United States, the SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization rate per 100,000 inhabitants has increased in recent weeks, reaching levels similar to the peaks observed in 2023 and 2024. Influenza and RSV activity continue to remain low. Caribbean: After the rise observed in previous weeks, ILI cases have shown a declining trend over the past four EW, associated with a higher proportion of positive influenza cases. SARI cases have remained at low levels. Influenza activity has fluctuated at moderate levels during the past four EW, with A(H3N2) being predominant, followed by A(H1N1)pdm09. RSV activity has remained low, though showing a slight increase, and SARS-CoV-2 activity remains stable at high levels. By country: In the last four EW, influenza activity has been observed in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Guyana. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 activity has been recorded in Belize, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Guyana, the Cayman Islands, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. • In Saint Lucia, an increase in SARI activity has been observed, with moderate levels linked to SARS-CoV-2 circulation, although this activity has decreased in the most recent EW. • In Guyana, there has been an increase in ILI and SARI cases, with positive cases attributable to both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, and to a lesser extent, RSV. Central America: There has been an increase in ILI and SARI activity, with most positive cases attributable to SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, whose activity has been on the rise. Influenza activity, after reaching epidemic levels in several countries in the subregion, has declined over the past four EW. During this period, the predominant influenza viruses have been A(H3N2). RSV activity has reached levels comparable to the peaks recorded in previous seasons. SARS-CoV-2 activity is increasing, reaching levels similar to the peaks observed in previous waves. By country: • In Costa Rica, following the increase in ILI and SARI cases in previous weeks, a decreasing trend has been observed over the past four EW, with most positive cases attributable to SARS-CoV-2, whose activity is increasing, RSV, also increasing, and to a lesser extent, influenza, which is currently declining below the epidemic threshold. • In El Salvador, influenza circulation, after reaching moderate levels, has declined over the past four EW, falling below the epidemic threshold. SARS-CoV-2 is on the rise, although it remains at low levels compared to previous waves. • In Guatemala, there has been a marked increase in ILI activity to moderate levels, with most positive cases attributable to SARS-CoV-2, and to a lesser extent, RSV and influenza. SARI activity has increased to epidemic levels, with a significant increase in the proportion of positive RSV cases. • In Honduras, over the past four EW, SARI activity has fluctuated at epidemic levels, mainly associated with positive influenza cases, which is currently declining within epidemic levels, and to a lesser extent, SARS-CoV-2. • In Nicaragua, after influenza circulation exceeded the elevated threshold, it has declined over the past four EW to epidemic levels, while RSV and SARS-CoV-2 circulation remains low. • In Panama, ILI and SARI cases have increased over the past four EW, with a rise in the proportion of positive RSV cases, whose activity has shown a significant increase, alongside SARS-CoV-2. Influenza activity has declined below the epidemic threshold. Andean: ILI and SARI activity has shown a decline over the past four EW in most countries. Additionally, there has been an increase in the proportion of positive SARS-CoV-2 cases, with a decrease in the proportion of positive RSV and influenza cases, whose activity has continued to decline during this period. The predominant influenza viruses have been A(H3N2). RSV activity has remained stable at moderate levels, while SARS-CoV-2 activity has shown a sharp increase to moderate levels compared to previous waves. By country: • In Bolivia, SARI cases are fluctuating around the epidemic threshold. Influenza activity has decreased to levels below this threshold. SARS-CoV-2 and RSV activity remains low. • In Colombia, SARI activity, after reaching epidemic levels in recent weeks, has declined below this threshold. Most positive cases are attributed to RSV, whose activity is declining, and to a lesser extent, SARS-CoV-2, which is on the rise, with circulation levels similar to the peaks observed in previous waves. Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases have decreased to moderate levels. • In Ecuador, SARI and pneumonia activity has remained around the moderate threshold in the past four EW. Positive SARI cases are mainly attributed to influenza, which is at epidemic levels, and to a lesser extent, RSV and SARS-CoV-2. • In Peru, after reaching extraordinary levels of SARI, there has been a decline in the past week. Most positive cases are attributable to RSV, whose activity is on the rise, and to a lesser extent, influenza, which is below the epidemic threshold. Additionally, increasing SARS-CoV-2 activity has been recorded; however, it remains at low levels. • In Venezuela, there has been an increase in influenza activity, rising above the epidemic threshold, and a slight increase in RSV activity, which remains at low levels. Brazil and the Southern Cone: Following the increase observed in previous weeks, SARI activity has declined over the past four EW, with most positive cases attributable to RSV and, to a lesser extent, influenza. ILI activity has shown a slight uptick, associated with an increase in the proportion of positive SARS-CoV-2 cases. Influenza activity is declining, remaining below the epidemic threshold in most countries. During this period, the predominant influenza viruses have been A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2). RSV activity has shown a slight decrease after reaching levels below the peaks observed in previous seasons. SARS-CoV-2 activity has remained low, although showing a slight increase. By country: • In Argentina, ILI activity, after reaching high levels, has declined to levels below the epidemic threshold, while SARI activity, after reaching epidemic levels, has also fallen below this threshold. Influenza activity, after reaching high levels, has declined to epidemic levels. Meanwhile, RSV, after reaching positivity levels similar to the peaks observed in previous seasons, has shown a downward trend, and SARS-CoV-2, although at low levels, has shown a slight increase. • In Brazil, ILI and SARI activity has declined to levels below the epidemic threshold. Influenza activity is also decreasing below the epidemic threshold, while RSV activity remains low. However, SARS-CoV-2 activity has shown a slight increase, though it remains at low levels. • In Chile, after the decline observed in previous weeks, there has been a rebound in ILI and SARI cases, with extraordinary and epidemic levels, respectively. Most positive cases during the past four EW are attributable to RSV, whose activity remains on the rise, although with positivity levels below the peaks observed in previous seasons. Influenza activity, after reaching extraordinary levels, has declined below the epidemic threshold. • In Paraguay, SARI activity remains at moderate levels, with most positive cases attributable to RSV, whose activity is declining, and to a lesser extent SARS-CoV-2, which is increasing. ILI activity, after reaching epidemic levels, has declined below this threshold. • In Uruguay, SARI activity has shown a slight decline to epidemic levels, with most positive cases attributable to RSV, whose activity continues to rise, reaching positivity levels higher than the peaks observed in previous seasons.