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Laboratory Building (BATLab)

Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4
1205 Geneva
Switzerland

Demande de Résultats

Switzerland

+41 (0)22 372 49 80
Manuel Schibler
Doctor
Manuel Schibler
Manager of Virology Laboratory

Surveillance of Seasonal Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV in Switzerland

H5N1 Analysis Request Form : https://www.hug.ch/laboratoire-virologie/centre-national-reference-pour-infections-virales

In Switzerland, epidemiological and virological surveillance of the influenza virus (flu) is provided by the Sentinella reporting system (1986) and the mandatory reporting system. Since 2018, a third system monitors influenza in hospitalized patients.
 
Of the primary care physicians (general practitioners, internists and pediatricians) participating in the Sentinella reporting system, around a half address nasopharyngeal swabs taken from some of their patients with influenza-like illness* (ILI) to the National Reference Center of Influenza (NRCI). The latter the surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, for influenza A and B and for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
 

*Case definition for suspected viral respiratory disease: 1) ARI (inclusion criterion): acute respiratory disease defined as "a disease that begins acutely with cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or cold, and of infectious origin according to the physician's judgement‘. This definition is consistent with the WHO definition of ’Acute Respiratory Infections‘ (ARI). 2) ILI (optional criterion): ’ sudden onset of high fever (>38°C) with cough or sore throat".


For samples that are positive for influenza A and/or B, a detailed characterization of the influenza viruses present in the sample will be performed (subtyping, antigenic proximity to vaccine strains, genotyping and identification of  mutations associated with antiviral resistance).
 
On this page, you will find a report of the number of samples tested by the NRCI; as well as the results relative to viral characterization.
 
 
Report on the activity of influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV
 
Week 40/2025 to 12/2026 (last update: 25.03.2026)

A new surveillance season for respiratory viruses circulating in the Swiss population began in calendar week 40 of 2025. In calendar week 12 of 2026, 21 samples from patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection were sent to the CNRI for analysis. The CNRI detected SARS-CoV-2 in 2 samples, influenza A in none of the samples, and RSV in 1 sample. The circulation of the influenza virus and RSV among the Swiss population has declined significantly. The circulation of Covid remains low.

Note:

The data for the last two weeks are provisional.

The data are available on the FOPH dashboard for influenza and SARS-CoV-2.

The results of subtyping (A/H1N1 or A/H3N2) and lineage (B/Victoria or B/Yamagata) are available on the FOPH website here. 

 

Contact :

For further information on the activity of human influenza viruses in Switzerland and on the different tests and methods used to characterize them contact Beryl Mazel-Sanchez, 022 372 40 82 or bmze@hug.ch
 
 
 
Useful links (accessed 04.09.2024):
 
Valuable information on the vaccine and influenza vaccination in Switzerland is available on the website www.sevaccinercontrelagrippe.ch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
Robert Koch Institut, Influenza

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Last update : 25/03/2026