Human seasonal influenza under COVID-19 and the potential consequences of influenza lineage elimination

Annual epidemics of seasonal influenza cause hundreds of thousands of deaths, high levels of morbidity, and substantial economic loss. Yet, global influenza circulation has been heavily suppressed by public health measures and travel restrictions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the influenza B/Yamagata lineage has not been conclusively detected since April 2020, and A(H3N2), A(H1N1), and B/Victoria viruses have since circulated with considerably less genetic diversity. Travel restrictions have largely confined regional outbreaks of A(H3N2) to South and Southeast Asia, B/Victoria to China, and A(H1N1) to West Africa. Seasonal influenza transmission lineages continue to perish globally, except…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

  Award: 75N93021C00016
• AG
  Australian Government
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: 75N93021C00016
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Awards: HHSN272201400006C, 75N93021C00016, T11-712/19-N