WHO: Global Respiratory Virus Activity: Weekly Update No. 556

[Commonground]

December 10, 2025
Based on data reported to WHO for week 48, ending 30 November 2025


SUMMARY

Globally, influenza activity was elevated with positivity above 15% in week 48. SARS-CoV-2 activity remained stable and low overall. Influenza predominated in all areas with positivity above 10% in the northern hemisphere temperate and sub-tropical zones and in the tropical zones.

Influenza

Globally, influenza activity continued to increase with influenza A viruses predominant among influenza detections in all zones.

In the northern hemisphere, influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Tropical South America, Africa, Northern and South-West Europe, and Southern, South-East and Western Asia. Percent positivity was over 30% in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Tropical South America, Western Africa, Northern and South West Europe and Eastern, Southern, South-East and Western Asia. Increases in activity were observed in countries in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Western Africa, Eastern, Northern and South West Europe, and Asia.

In the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low overall although elevated positivity (>10%) was reported in a few countries in Tropical and Temperate South America, Eastern Africa and Oceania; percent positivity was over 30% in single countries in Eastern Africa and South-East Asia. Small increases in activity were observed in Eastern Africa and Oceania.

In the zones with elevated positivity, influenza A(H3N2) was predominant in all zones except Central America and the Caribbean and Northern Africa where there was codominance of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2).

SARS-CoV-2

Globally, SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained stable and low, with some countries reporting elevated positivity (>10%) in Central America and the Caribbean, Temperate South America and Europe. Percent positivity was over 30% in a single country in South West Europe. Small increases in activity were reported in single countries in Temperate South America, Northern Europe and Southern Asia.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV activity was stable and low overall although elevated percent positivity (>10%) was reported in few countries in Central America and the Caribbean and South West Europe. Increases in activity compared to the previous reporting period were reported in few countries in Central America and the Caribbean, South West Europe and Western Asia. [Figures 9 and 10] RSV and influenza activity were both elevated in one country in South West Europe.


Starting with report #501, the Global Respiratory Virus Activity Weekly Update included data from sentinel surveillance and other types of systematically conducted virologic surveillance. Countries, areas, and territories use a variety of approaches to monitor respiratory virus activity and data in this report may vary from surveillance reports posted elsewhere. Analyses stratified by source of surveillance is available through Respimart.

https://www.who.int/teams/global-in...ng/influenza-updates/current-influenza-update

 

[Commonground]

[Emphasis is mine. I do not see the confirmed Cambodia​ case in 2026 mentioned in this report. Please see: https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...1029693-cambodia-2026-h5n1-cases#post1029699]

Avian Influenza Weekly Update Number 1034
​20 February 2026
​
Note: The reporting date of human infections included in this weekly update is based on the Event Information Site

(EIS) posting date, rather than the date of initial notification received through the International Health Regulations

(2005) (IHR).

Human infection with avian influenza A(H5) viruses

Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The last case was reported from Phnom Penh, Cambodia,

with an onset of symptoms on 10 November 2025.

From 1 January 2003 to 22 January 2026, a total of 481 cases of human infection with avian influenza

A(H5N1) virus have been reported from six countries within the Western Pacific Region (Table 1). Of these

cases, 319 were fatal, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 66.3%.
​​

Globally, from 1 January 2003 to 22 January 2026, 993 cases of human infection with avian influenza

A(H5N1) virus were reported from 25 countries. Of these 993 cases, 477 were fatal (CFR of 48.0%).

Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. Since 2014, a total of 93 laboratory-confirmed cases of

human infection with influenza A(H5N6) virus including 57 deaths (CFR 61.3%) have been reported to WHO

in the Western Pacific Region. The last case was reported from Anhui Province, China, with an onset date

of 17 June 2024.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H5) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The last case was reported from Long An Province, Viet

Nam, with an onset date of 9 November 2024.
​

Public health risk assessment for human infection with avian influenza A(H5) viruses

Whenever avian influenza viruses are circulating in poultry, there is a risk for sporadic infection and small

clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments. Therefore,

sporadic human cases are not unexpected.

No sustained human-to-human transmission has been identified associated with the recent reported

human infections with avian influenza A(H5). Available evidence suggests that influenza A(H5) viruses

circulating have not acquired the ability to efficiently transmit between people, therefore sustained

human-to-human transmission is thus currently considered unlikely at this time.

The zoonotic threat remains elevated due to the spread of viruses among birds. However, the overall

pandemic risk associated with A(H5) is considered to not have significantly changed in comparison to

previous years. WHO recommends that Member States remain vigilant and consider mitigation steps to

reduce human exposure to potentially infected birds to reduce the risk of additional zoonotic infection.

For information on risk assessments on Avian Influenza, see:

Updated joint FAO/WHO/WOAH public health assessment of recent influenza A(H5) virus events in

animals and people published on 29 September 2025.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H3N8) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H3N8) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The last case was reported from China with an onset date

of 22 February 2023. To date, a total of three laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with

influenza A(H3N8) virus with one death have been reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N4) virus in China

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N4) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. To date, only one laboratory-confirmed case of human

infection with influenza A(H7N4) virus has been reported to WHO. This case was reported from China on

14 February 2018.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. To date, a total of 1 568 laboratory-confirmed human

infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, including 616 fatal cases (CFR: 39.3%), have been reported

to WHO since early 2013. The last case reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region was in 2019.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus were

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. All cases were reported from China: The first case is a

two-year-old male from Hunan Province, with an onset date of 29 December 2025. The second case is a

73-year-old female from Guangdong Province, with an onset date of 17 January 2026. Both cases had

exposure to domestic parrots and live poultry market. One case required hospitalisation, but both cases

have now recovered.
​

Since December 2015, a total of 157 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2), including two

deaths (both with underlying conditions), have been reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. Of

these, 154 were reported from China, two were from Cambodia, and one was from Viet Nam.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H10N3) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, one new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H10N3) virus was

reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The case is a 34-year-old male from Guangdong Province,

who an onset date of 29 December 2025. The case had exposure to live poultry. He was hospitalized but

is currently in stable condition. To date, seven cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H10N3)

have been reported globally.

Most previously reported human infections with avian influenza viruses were due to exposure to infected

poultry or contaminated environments. Since avian influenza viruses, including avian influenza A(H10N3)

viruses, continue to be detected in poultry populations, further sporadic human cases could be detected

in the future. Currently, available epidemiologic information suggests that the avian influenza A(H10N3)

virus has not acquired the ability for sustained human-to-human transmission, thus the likelihood of

spread among humans is low.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H10N5) virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H10N5) was reported

to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. To date, one case of avian influenza A(H10N5) virus has been

reported from Zhejiang Province, China, with an onset date of 30 November 2023.

Avian influenza A(H10) subtype viruses are known to be distributed in domestic and wild bird species

worldwide. They are classified as low pathogenic and occasionally infect mammals (e.g., pigs). Human

infection with avian influenza A(H10N5) is unusual; however, given the sporadic nature of human infection

with H10Nx, this is not an unexpected event. There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human

transmission of influenza A(H10Nx). Human infections of avian influenza need to be monitored and

assessed for any indications of changes in transmissibility and virulence.

Animal infection with avian influenza virus

From 13 to 19 February 2026, 28 new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in animals

were reported from Republic of Korea to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) in the Western

Pacific Region:

• On 19 February 2026, a total of 28 outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry were reported from

Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeonggi-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Jeollanam-do

provinces, with a cumulative total of 5 652 new cases, 4 394 new deaths, and 2 853 934 birds killed

and disposed of (Source).

For more information on animal infection with avian influenza viruses with potential public health impact,

visit:

• WOAH web page: Weekly disease information and Latest report on Avian Influenza

• Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES)

• FAO Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i)
​
Continued: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/defa...20260220.pdf?sfvrsn=eb7a5bb0_1&download=truev

 

[Commonground]

Global Respiratory Virus Activity: Weekly Update N° 565

Week 6, ending 08 February 2026
18 February 2026
| Emergency situation update​

Overview


Globally, influenza activity remained stable and positivity was just above 15% in week 6 2026. SARS-CoV-2 activity remained low overall. Influenza predominated and positivity was around 15% in the northern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas and the tropical areas. In the southern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 positivity were both low.

Influenza

Globally, influenza detections continued to decline in week 6. Influenza A viruses were predominant among influenza detections, with a slight increase in the proportion of influenza B virus detections in recent weeks.

In the northern hemisphere, influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in countries in North America, Western Africa, Western, Southern and South-East Asia. Percent positivity was over 30% in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Tropical South America, Northern Africa, Europe and Eastern Asia. Increases in activity were observed in single countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Western Africa, Northern Europe and Eastern Asia and in two or more countries in South West and Eastern Europe.

In the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low overall although elevated positivity (>10%) was reported in single countries in Temperate South America and Eastern Africa and two countries in Tropical South America. Percent positivity was over 30% in a single country in Oceania. No increases in activity were observed in any countries in the southern hemisphere.

In the zones with elevated positivity, influenza A(H3N2) was predominant in most of the zones except Western Africa where influenza B was predominant.

SARS-CoV-2

Globally, SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained stable and low, with single countries reporting elevated positivity (>10%) in Temperate South America, South West and Northern Europe. Small increases in activity were reported in single countries in South West and Northern Europe.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Globally, RSV positivity remained stable and low, with a few countries reporting elevated positivity (>10%) in Central America and the Caribbean, Northern Africa, South West and Northern Europe and Western Asia. Small increases in activity were reported in a few countries in Central America and the Caribbean and Northern Europe and in single countries in Northern Africa, South West and Eastern Europe and Western Asia. RSV and influenza activity were both elevated in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Northern Africa, South West and Northern Europe and Western Asia.

Severity assessment

The severity assessments here are reported from countries, areas and territories. Assessments for transmissibility can be reported based on syndromic parameters and/or influenza-specific parameters. In the northern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas, influenza-specific transmissibility was reported as low (1) and moderate (1); transmissibility using syndromic data was reported as below seasonal threshold (12), low (8), moderate (12) and high (1). Influenza-specific transmissibility was reported as below seasonal threshold in a single country in the southern hemisphere temperate and subtropical areas.

WHO encourages countries, especially those that have received the multiplex influenza and SARS-CoV-2 reagent kits from GISRS, to conduct integrated surveillance of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and report epidemiological and laboratory information in a timely manner to established regional and global platforms. The guidance can be found here.

Starting with report #501, the Global Respiratory Virus Activity Weekly Update included data from sentinel surveillance and other types of systematically conducted virologic surveillance. Countries, areas, and territories use a variety of approaches to monitor respiratory virus activity and data in this report may vary from surveillance reports posted elsewhere. Analyses stratified by source of surveillance is available through Respimart.

https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/global-respiratory-virus-activity--weekly-update-n--565
​