Season overview
2021-2022 season
- For the Region as a whole, influenza activity reached levels well above those observed in the 2020/21 season.
- Influenza activity, based on sentinel primary care specimens from patients presenting with ILI or ARI symptoms, first peaked in week 52/2021 (reaching 19% positivity), declining thereafter until week 4/2022, when it increased again reaching a plateau phase (25-30% positivity) between weeks 10 and 15/2022 (this represented late activity compared to most previous seasons) followed by a subsequent 8-week decline to 10% in week 20/2022.
- Different timings, epidemiological situations and levels of influenza activity in countries across the Region were observed over the course of the season, with A(H3) viruses being dominant in all countries.
- During the influenza Vaccine Composition Meeting for the southern hemisphere 2022 season, held in September 2021, WHO recommended updating of the A(H3) and the B/Victoria-lineage components. The full report can be found here.
- Vaccination remains the best protective measure for prevention of influenza. With increased circulation of influenza virus, clinicians should consider early antiviral treatment of patients in at-risk groups with influenza virus infection, according to local guidance, to prevent severe outcomes. Viruses analyzed so far have remained susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors and baloxavir marboxil.
Other news
For information about the SARS-CoV-2 situation in the WHO European Region visit:
- WHO website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- ECDC website: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china
Influenza positivity
For the European Region, influenza virus positivity in sentinel primary care specimens was 7% in week 35/2022 having reached 9% in week 34/2022. While below the epidemic threshold set at 10%, these are relatively high levels for the inter-seasonal period.
Germany, Israel and Spain reported sentinel detections in week 35/2022 with corresponding influenza virus positivities of 5%, 10% and 13%, respectively.
External data sources