Number of Flu Cases Lower Than Pre-pandemic Levels

March 21, 2022

The variety of influenza circumstances is rising throughout the United States however has not hit pre-pandemic ranges, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection says.

One of the optimistic unwanted effects of the COVID pandemic was a drop in flu circumstances, apparently as a result of folks have been isolating and social distancing. In the 2019-2020 season, extra 22,000 folks within the U.S. died from flu. Deaths decreased to about 700 for the 2020-2021 season.

For the 2021-22 flu season thus far, the CDC estimates there have been 1,700 flu deaths, 2.9 million flu circumstances, and 28,000 hospitalizations due to the flu.

“The cumulative hospitalization rate … is higher than the rate for the entire 2020-2021 season, but lower than the rate seen at this time during the four seasons preceding the COVID-19 pandemic,” the CDC stated in its weekly influenza surveillance report.

But the CDC famous that the variety of hospital admissions has gone up every of the final six weeks. Three pediatric deaths from flu have been reported final week. For the 2021-22 flu season thus far, there have been 13 pediatric deaths.

The share of outpatient physician visits due to respiratory diseases went up final week, however are nonetheless beneath epidemic baselines, the CDC stated, noting that influenza just isn’t the one respiratory sickness circulating.

While the variety of flu circumstances varies by location, Oklahoma has reported excessive flu exercise as measured by physician visits, and Arkansas and Idaho reported average exercise, the CDC stated.

A preliminary research printed in December stated that flu vaccines for the 2021-22 flu season aren’t offering as a lot as a lot safety as hoped for in opposition to probably the most extensively circulating pressure of influenza. However, the research stated it seems the vaccines will nonetheless forestall extreme sickness in people who find themselves contaminated.

The vaccines have been designed far prematurely to battle the flu strains anticipated to dominate the United States throughout the 2021-22 flu season: H3N2, H1N1, and two strains of influenza B.

Flu season usually lasts from October to May within the northern hemisphere and April to September within the southern hemisphere.