CDC: Near-record number of children died from influenza during 2019-20 season

The latest CDC data shows 192 influenza-related pediatric deaths were reported during the 2019-20 season. This is the highest number of influenza-associated deaths in children in a regular influenza season since the CDC began reporting such deaths during the 2004-05 season. The second-highest was during the 2017-18 season, which saw 188 deaths. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, 358 pediatric influenza-related deaths were reported to the CDC from April 2009 to September 2010. Last year’s influenza season came in two consecutive waves with a predominance of influenza B, followed by the A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. The trivalent vaccine for the 2019-20 season included only one strain of the two most common strains of influenza B that can be particularly severe in children. All but one of this season’s vaccines are quadrivalent and include the two primary B strains, Victoria and Yamagata, and two strains of A-like viruses (H1N1) pdm09 and (H3N2). CDC estimates the 2019–20 season saw 38 million people sick with influenza, 18 million visits to a health care provider for influenza, 400,000 related hospitalizations, and 22,000 influenza deaths. It labeled the season “atypical” as it was severe for children aged 4 years and for younger adults aged 18-49 years.