8 New Influenza-related Fatalities Reported

While the new flu season is beginning in the United States, influenza-related fatalities from the 2022-2023 season are still being counted.

The National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance data available on July 6, 2023, as of week #26, among the 1,091 pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19 deaths reported, 186 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death, and eight listed influenza on the death certificate.

Furthermore, the U.S. CDC's Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality total for the last flu season has reached 160 children.

The previous high was recorded during the 2019-2022 flu season when 190 children died from influenza infections.

The vaccination status related to these deaths was not disclosed.

From a global perspective, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently published Influenza Update N° 449.

As of July 10, 2023, the WHO says influenza detections worldwide remained low. Still, some countries reported increased influenza detections in the southern hemisphere in recent weeks, while virus detections in others seemed to have peaked.

In the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity was reported at low levels or below the seasonal threshold in most reporting countries. Virus detections were predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses.

And in the Caribbean and Central American countries, influenza activity remained low overall.

In South America, the temperate zone reported influenza appeared to decrease to low levels, while severe acute respiratory infections activity remained elevated in a few countries.

Additionally, in the tropical countries of South America, overall influenza activity was low, says the WHO.

And in Oceania, Australia's Department of Health and Aged Care recently published report No. 6, which stated there is insufficient information to assess the potential severity of the 2023 influenza season comprehensively. 

Regarding when to get one of the various flu shots for the 2023-2024 flu season, the U.S. CDC suggests people speak with their doctor or pharmacists regarding timing and co-administration options.