Pennsylvania's 2020-2021 flu season ended on May 22 and Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam says it was one of the mildest seasons ever recorded in the state.
“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,” Acting Secretary Beam said. “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 total, there were 3,664 laboratory-confirmed flu cases and 21 flu-associated deaths statewide, a 95% drop over the 2019-2020 flu season.
The contagious disease is caused by the influenza virus and affects the nose, throat and lungs of those infected. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, congestion, body aches and tiredness.
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The most recent flu season began on September 27, 2020.