2019–2020 United States flu season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, as of late March 2020, the 2019–2020 United States flu season had caused at least 39 million flu illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths.[1] In January 2020, the Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci expected the 2019-2020 flu season to be one of the worst in several years, at least as severe as the 2017-2018 season.[2] By the third week in February the seasonal flu was near its peak with over 26 million people sickened, 250,000 hospitalized, and 14,000 who died.[3] Experts said that the flu came in two waves, with a hard impact on children. The season began in October, earlier than usual, with the expected wave of influenza B virus. The number of children who died, 105, was higher in late February than any season for the past ten years. with about 67% associated with influenza B viruses. The second wave came with the influx of influenza A viruses, such as H1N1.[3] According to preliminary burden estimates for the 2019-2020 flu season (October 1, 2019 through April 4, 2020) there were between 39 and 56 million flu cases; 18-26 million doctor visits; 410,000 to 740,000 hospitalizations, and between 24,000 and 62,000 deaths. Due to higher than average testing this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary estimates may be adjusted down when the flu season is officially closed.[4] The unusually abrupt decline in cases by April 2020 was attributed to the effects of widespread social distancing and lockdowns aimed at COVID-19.[5]

References
  1. "Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report". 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  2. "2019-2020 Flu Season on Track to Be Especially Severe, New CDC Data Suggests". Time. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  3. Thompson, Dennis (2020-02-21). "Flu Season That's Sickened 26 Million May Be at Its Peak". Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  4. CDC (2020-04-17). "Preliminary In-Season 2019-2020 Flu Burden Estimates". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  5. Jones (2020-05-21). "How coronavirus lockdowns stopped flu in its tracks". Nature. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
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