2021-2022 Weekly Influenza Update


2021 - 2022 Weekly Influenza Update: 10/3/2021 - 06/18/2022 (Week 40 - 24)
Fresno County Department of Public Health

The 2021 - 2022 influenza season began on 10/3/2021 (week 40). This surveillance report monitors influenza activity and is updated weekly through the end of the 2021 - 2022 season. Providers must report laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated fatal pediatric cases in those 0-17 years old. Laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths in those 18 years of age and older are voluntary reported by providers in California.1 Fresno County Public Health obtains the number of influenza-associated fatal cases between 0 and 17 years of age from investigations. The number of influenza-associated deaths in those 18 years and older are obtained from vital statistics records. Death and viral surveillance data for national and state regions is from the CDC’s FluView2 applications.

INFLUENZA DEATHS LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL

Fresno County: 10/3/2021 - 06/18/2022:3

  • Influenza-associated pediatric deaths (0-17 years old): 0
  • Influenza-associated adult deaths (18-64 years old): 2
  • Influenza-associated adult deaths (65 years or older): 6

California: 10/3/2021 - 05/28/2022:

  • All influenza-associated deaths: 56

Nationwide: 10/3/2021 - 05/28/2022:

  • Influenza-associated pediatric deaths (0-17 years old): 33
  • Influenza-associated adult deaths (18-64 years old): 455
  • Influenza-associated adult deaths (65 years or older): 1658

INFLUENZA TYPING AT NATIONAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS

Figure 1 shows the cumulative distribution of influenza types from national, CDC Region 9 and California from 10/3/2021 to 06/18/2022 (week 24). CDC Region 9 includes California, Arizona, Hawaii and Nevada.

Figure 2 shows the weekly distribution of influenza types from CDC Region 9 from 10/3/2021 to 06/18/2022 (week 24). CDC Region 9 includes California, Arizona, Hawaii and Nevada.

Figure 3 shows the number of influenza positive tests by disease week and influenza type in Fresno County. The number of weekly samples changes throughout the season. The data for figure 3 comes from both public health and private laboratories. Most data for Fresno County comes from private laboratories where subtyping is not commonly performed.

Figure 4 shows the percentage of samples testing positive for influenza A or B by disease week in Fresno County. The number of weekly samples changes throughout the season.

INFLUENZA-LIKE-ILLNESS (ILI) AT EMERGENCY DEPARMENTS

Figure 5 shows the percent of ED visits attributed to influenza-like illness (ILI) in previous seasons and the current season. The baseline and alert curves provide reference points to monitor ILI activity in the current season. The baseline curve and alert thresholds are estimated using prior seasons’ data from 2016 to 2021. The baseline curve is the average expected percent of ED visits due to ILI. The alert curve is the upper 95% confidence limit based off percent ED visits due to ILI. Because COVID-19 and influenza have similar symptoms, ILI for the 2021-2022 season may be skewed. Data on previous seasons and current seasons is collected through EpiCenter, a syndromic surveillance system.


  1. CDPH Recommendations for Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Testing and Reporting - 2021-2022.↩︎

  2. CDC FluView.↩︎

  3. Fresno County counts include all influenza deaths that occurred within the county regardless of residence.↩︎