Human rhinovirus/enterovirus—the commonest cold-causing virus—made a comeback later in 2020, however influenza didn’t, resulting in a virtually non-existent flu season in 2020-2021. The CDC notes that solely 0.2% of respiratory specimens examined within the US have been optimistic for an influenza virus throughout this era, regardless of excessive ranges of testing.1 As compared, the earlier three flu seasons noticed a peak between 26.2% and 30.3% of respiratory checks with influenza-positive outcomes.1
The CDC attributes the dampened 2020-2021 respiratory season to COVID-19 mitigation measures like masking, faculty closures, lowered journey, and bodily distancing, in addition to influenza vaccinations.1
These actions might have impacted the 2021-2022 respiratory season as properly, in accordance with the CDC, which describes this season as “delicate.”3 Whereas the season wasn’t as dormant because the earlier yr, “the variety of instances of influenza-associated sickness, medically attended sicknesses, hospitalizations, and deaths have been the bottom for the reason that 2011-2012 season which was the primary full season following the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.”3
