Finding Influenza in June is Tough

In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza activity was generally low at interepidemic levels in most countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Influenza Update N° 477.

As of the end of May 2024, the WHO says elevated flu activity continued to be reported in countries in Central America and the Caribbean.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on June 7, 2024, that seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally and is forecasted to resume in Fall 2024.

As the Southern Hemisphere winter season accelerates, countries in South America continue to report elevated influenza activity. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses have been detected. 

The WHO forecasts that influenza infections will increase in the coming months.

Both the WHO and CDC recommend international travelers speak with a healthcare provider about flu shot options before departing abroad.

The CDC recently reported that about 158 million flu vaccines were distributed in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 flu season.

Note: The CDC says most known influenza viruses are dissimilar to avian and pandemic influenza viruses; traditional flu shots are not expected to protect people against bird flu or cow flu.