Respiratory illness in India
The three major respiratory pathogens side by side — influenza, COVID-19 and RSV — based on WHO FluNet weekly aggregate of Indian sentinel sites (SENTINEL filter applied).
Current situation: Influenza
In week 15 of 2026, activity of influenza (seasonal flu) in India is low. The trend — derived from clinical surveillance — is rising. A clear upward movement has emerged over the past few weeks.
The classification is based on the WHO FluNet aggregate of Indian sentinel laboratory sites (with the SENTINEL filter applied to ensure comparability of reporting). Seasonally, infection waves in India typically peak during the July to October monsoon season and again between January and March (a bimodal pattern); activity is usually markedly lower in the drier months between the two peaks. How severe a given season becomes depends on the circulating virus variant and the population's immune status, among other factors.
Current situation: RSV
In week 15 of 2026, activity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in India is low. The trend — derived from clinical surveillance — is falling. A slight downward trend has emerged over recent weeks.
The classification is based on the WHO FluNet aggregate of Indian sentinel laboratory sites (SENTINEL filter applied), which carries RSV positivity indicators. Seasonally, infection waves in India typically peak between December and February; activity is usually markedly lower in spring and summer. How severe a given season becomes depends on the circulating virus variant and the population's immune status, among other factors.
Data sources and methodology
The current picture for India is built on WHO FluNet, the World Health Organization's global platform for influenza surveillance. multiple national sentinel laboratories reports weekly sentinel laboratory results to FluNet, which we translate into a consultation-equivalent signal. We apply a SENTINEL-only filter because NON-SENTINEL reporting streams in India carry too much noise to be informative.
WHO FluNet
FluNet is the WHO's weekly global influenza surveillance database. National influenza centres and reference laboratories — for India this is multiple national sentinel laboratories — submit the number of respiratory specimens tested and the number positive for influenza and, where available, RSV. Using FluNet ensures a consistent, internationally comparable data source for countries without a European-style sentinel consultation system.
Positivity-based signal
Unlike ECDC ERVISS, FluNet does not carry outpatient consultation rates. Our headline signal is therefore derived from the weekly lab positivity rate (percent of tested specimens that are positive), multiplied by a pathogen-specific scaling factor — 80 for influenza and 50 for RSV — to approximate a consultation-equivalent incidence. COVID-19 is not available via FluNet and is therefore not shown for these countries.
Why this source
FluNet is the only weekly, comparable dataset covering many non-European countries. Positivity is relatively insensitive to changes in overall testing volume, which makes it a reasonable proxy for underlying transmission pressure even when the denominator fluctuates. We apply a SENTINEL-only filter where appropriate to reduce noise from non-sentinel reporting streams.
Qualitative classification
The “low”, “moderate” and “high” categories follow seasonal reference values and epidemiological thresholds calibrated to match our classifications for other countries. The positivity × scaling-factor product is mapped to the same consultation-equivalent scale we use elsewhere so results stay comparable across regions. Data refreshes weekly when WHO publishes the latest FluNet update.
Frequently asked questions
How is overall respiratory-illness activity tracked in India?
Indian sentinel sites reporting into WHO FluNet — coordinated through ICMR and NCDC — provide weekly positivity data for influenza and RSV. This produces a view of respiratory-virus pressure at participating hospitals and primary-care sites. The system is explicitly sentinel-based: it describes trends and relative intensity rather than attempting a nationwide headcount of ill people.
Why isn't COVID-19 tracked here alongside flu and RSV?
WHO FluNet — which aggregates India's sentinel data — covers influenza and RSV, not SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 in India is monitored through separate ICMR, NCDC, and INSACOG (genomic) streams. Data pages built on FluNet focus on flu and RSV only for that reason. COVID-19 surveillance in India continues through those dedicated channels.
Why does India have two respiratory peaks a year?
India's bimodal pattern reflects its climate and geography. The monsoon period (roughly July–October) drives a humid-weather peak through increased indoor crowding and altered viral dynamics, while the cooler January–March window produces a northern-dominated winter peak. Together they generate year-round respiratory circulation with two well-defined crests rather than a single sharp winter wave.
How does India compare internationally?
India's bimodal pattern stands out clearly against the single-winter-peak signatures of higher-latitude countries. Because India reports into WHO FluNet with the same weekly cadence and methodology as the rest of the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions, side-by-side comparison is straightforward. India's curve generally resembles other South and South-East Asian countries more than European ones.
How is activity classified in Indian sentinel data?
Qualitative classification — low, moderate, high — is applied at the sentinel level and anchored to historical reference ranges for each contributing laboratory. WHO FluNet publishes the aggregated picture. Given substantial regional and seasonal variation, these qualitative tiers represent relative pressure at sentinel sites more honestly than absolute case totals would.
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