Human rhinovirus/enterovirus—the most common cold-causing virus—made a comeback later in 2020, but influenza did not, leading to a nearly non-existent flu season in 2020-2021. The CDC notes that only 0.2% of respiratory specimens tested in the US were positive for an influenza virus during this period, despite high levels of testing.1 In comparison, the previous three flu seasons saw a peak between 26.2% and 30.3% of respiratory tests with influenza-positive results.1
The CDC attributes the dampened 2020-2021 respiratory season to COVID-19 mitigation measures like masking, school closures, reduced travel, and physical distancing, as well as influenza vaccinations.1
These actions may have impacted the 2021-2022 respiratory season as well, according to the CDC, which describes this season as “mild.”3 While the season wasn’t as dormant as the previous year, “the number of cases of influenza-associated illness, medically attended illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths were the lowest since the 2011-2012 season which was the first full season following the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.”3