The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting one of the mildest influenza seasons on record in the state.
The 2020-21 flu season lasted from Sept. 27 through May 22.
During that time, the department reported 3,664 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu and 21 flu-associated deaths statewide. There were 45 flu-associated hospitalizations.
Lab testing identified both Influenza A and B.
This is well below the 198 flu-related deaths the state reported in the 2019-20 flu season.
Also, according to the Department of Health, the cumulative count was down 95% from the 2019-20 flu season. The 2019-20 season did have a higher than normal number of flu cases.
In that same time period as the 2020-21 flu season, the state reported approximately 18,939 deaths related to COVID-19.
The Department of Health typically releases county-by-county flu data. However, this season, the flu numbers did not reach a level that allowed them to release county-by-county data.
As the website explains, “The numbers per county did not increase to a level that protects the confidentiality of the patients’ health information, so the data will not be posted this season.”
Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam talked about some of the reasons for the mild flu season.
“As we end the flu season this year with fewer than 4,000 cases, I want to emphasize that this is one of the mildest flu seasons on record for Pennsylvania,” Beam explained. “The previous season was higher than usual with more than 130,900 cases of flu. That is a stark difference from where we ended in 2021. The low flu activity, in part, is a testament to effective COVID-19 mitigation efforts that also prevent the flu, since the two infectious diseases spread the same way. In addition, a record number of individuals got their flu vaccine this season.”
In fact, the number of flu cases was down across the nation this season, despite an increase in testing.
The Department of Health stated, “It was reported nationally that the drop of flu cases occurred despite a sixfold increase in testing at public health labs, most of which test for influenza A and B along with COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended health care providers test patients who have COVID-19-like symptoms for both flu and COVID-19, because it is impossible to differentiate between the two viruses without testing, and patients can have both viruses at the same time.”
The CDC reported an increase in the number of flu vaccines given this flu season, with 193.8 doses given compared to 174.5 million doses given during the 2019-20 flu season.
Flu symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches, according to the Department of Health.
Learn more about the 2020-21 flu season at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Flu/Pages/2020-21-Flu.aspx
