Key Points

Introduction

In France, influenza occurs in the form of seasonal epidemics between December and April and affects an average of 2.5 million people each year. However, the scale and impact of these winter epidemics on the healthcare system and society vary greatly from year to year and are unpredictable. The primary objective of influenza surveillance is to monitor the dynamics of the epidemic and estimate morbidity and mortality due to influenza viruses.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, seasonal influenza surveillance took place from week 40 of 2020 to week 15 of 2021. During this season, no active circulation of influenza viruses was observed.

2020–21 Season: No Active Circulation of Influenza Viruses

• No active circulation of influenza viruses

• In mainland France: sporadic detection of influenza viruses A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B/Victoria

• In the overseas territories: no influenza viruses detected

• No influenza epidemic detected this winter in the Northern Hemisphere

• Increase in influenza vaccination coverage, reaching 55.8% among at-risk individuals