August 6, 2026

As respiratory season intensifies across South America, clinicians and healthcare distributors are facing a familiar but increasingly complex challenge: how to respond quickly and confidently when influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 are circulating at the same time. The latest PAHO/WHO alert shows that the Southern Hemisphere is entering its seasonal respiratory peak, with rising influenza activity, growing influenza B circulation in some countries, and continued RSV transmission placing added pressure on outpatient services, hospitals, and pediatric care. 

For clinicians, this means more patients presenting with similar symptoms and a greater need for fast, reliable differentiation at the point of care. For distributors, it means strong demand for diagnostic products that help healthcare systems respond efficiently during a season when testing volume and clinical urgency both rise. 

A Season Defined by Co-Circulation

The 2026 PAHO/WHO alert highlights a clear regional pattern: influenza activity is increasing across the Southern Hemisphere, RSV continues to rise in many areas, and influenza B is becoming more prominent in several countries in South America. In Brazil and the Southern Cone, influenza positivity reached 16.4% and RSV positivity reached 17.2% by epidemiological week 22, while Chile and Argentina also reported substantial seasonal increases in influenza activity and influenza-like illness. 

This kind of co-circulation makes syndromic diagnosis alone less reliable. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue can be caused by multiple respiratory viruses, so testing becomes essential to guide clinical decision-making, help support appropriate patient management, and reduce uncertainty for providers and patients alike. 

Why Rapid Testing Is Essential

During seasonal surges, speed matters. Rapid antigen testing can help clinicians identify likely respiratory infections earlier, especially in outpatient and point-of-care settings where decisions often need to be made quickly. The PAHO/WHO alert also reinforces the importance of strengthening surveillance, improving diagnostic capacity, and prioritizing laboratory testing for respiratory viruses during periods of increased circulation. 

For healthcare systems, rapid testing can support:

• Faster triage and patient flow. 
• Better differentiation among common respiratory pathogens. 
• More informed clinical and infection-control decisions. 
• Greater preparedness during periods of high seasonal demand. 

Healgen’s COVID-19/Flu A&B Test for Professionals

Healgen’s COVID-19/Flu A&B Antigen Test for Professional Use is well positioned for this respiratory season as it helps differentiate between SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B in one workflow. In a season marked by overlapping symptoms and rising co-circulation, this type of combination test can be especially valuable for clinics, urgent care centers, and other point-of-care settings. 

For clinicians, the benefit is practical: faster Point-of-Care Testing insight when patients present with respiratory symptoms. For distributors, the benefit is strategic: a product that meets a distinct seasonal need and aligns with the growing demand for efficient respiratory diagnostics across Latin America.

What Clinicians and Distributors Should Know

Clinicians working through the current respiratory season should anticipate more respiratory illness occurences, especially in areas seeing higher influenza and RSV activity. The PAHO/WHO alert recommends strengthening integrated surveillance, laboratory testing, and response capacity, underscoring the need for tools that fit busy clinical workflows. 

Distributors, meanwhile, should view this season as an opportunity to support providers with diagnostic solutions that are relevant, timely, and easy to deploy. Products like Healgen’s COVID-19/Flu A&B test can help meet demand in markets where respiratory viruses are circulating simultaneously, and quick differentiation is increasingly important. 

Latin America’s respiratory season is being shaped by co-circulating viruses, rising influenza activity, and continued RSV burden. In this environment, rapid testing is not just a convenience: it is a critical part of seasonal preparedness, clinical efficiency, and smart distribution strategy. Healgen’s COVID-19/Flu A&B Professional Use test offers clinicians and distributors a practical solution for meeting that need during a busy and evolving respiratory season. 

Explore the Healgen website to learn more about respiratory and discover additional testing solutions: https://healgen.com/human-health