One clue that helps forecast the forthcoming respiratory virus season in North America is the trend data from the Southern Hemisphere’s experience. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the 2024 flu season, which is winding down this month, was similar to previous flu seasons in the Southern Hemisphere—a signal that northern countries may not see any particular highs or lows in terms of severity or case numbers. Flu activity in South America and Australia, for example, has been primarily attributed to influenza A(H3N2) viruses. And even if the activity seems fairly predictable, CDC still warns that influenza causes significant illness, hospitalizations, and death.
Children are vulnerable to flu: During the past 10 flu seasons, the number of pediatric flu deaths has ranged from 1 (2020-2021) to 199 (2019-2020), and for the most recent season, CDC reported 194 pediatric flu deaths.