This flu season has seen a remarkable decline in pediatric fatalities, with only one child reported to have died from the flu in the U.S., according to the latest reports from health officials. In stark contrast, last year, nearly 200 children lost their lives to the virus. The significant reduction in flu cases can be largely attributed to measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that there have been no new pediatric flu deaths reported during the eighth week of the season, bringing the total for the 2020-21 season to just one. In the previous flu season of 2019-20, 195 children died from the flu. The CDC highlights that only 0.1 percent of flu tests are returning positive this season, a stark decrease compared to the 20 to 30 percent positivity rate seen in prior years.
Lynnette Brammer, head of the CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team, remarked on the global decline of flu cases, indicating that the way influenza spreads may have been significantly impacted by mask usage. Flor Munoz, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infectious-diseases committee, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the effectiveness of preventative measures in reducing flu transmission.
For perspective, the 2018-19 flu season recorded 144 pediatric deaths, and 188 children died during the 2017-18 season. Adults have also seen a dramatic decrease in flu-related deaths this season, with approximately 450 reported compared to around 22,000 last year.
Aaron Milstone, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, stated, “This clearly shows that masking, distancing, and hand hygiene work.” However, he raised concerns about whether these strategies will be maintained to prevent influenza in the future, in addition to COVID-19.
Experts caution that the upcoming flu season may present challenges, as uncertainty exists regarding which flu strain will dominate. Andrea Kovacs, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Southern California, warned that if public health restrictions are lifted, there is still a possibility of a late surge in flu cases this season.
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In summary, this flu season has seen an unprecedented drop in cases and fatalities among children, largely due to COVID-19 preventive measures. With only one pediatric death reported, the health community is hopeful yet cautious about the future flu seasons.
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