Influenza in Sweden – Season 2020–2021
ListenThere was no influenza epidemic in Sweden during the 2020–2021 influenza surveillance season, due to a combination of factors stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of influenza was very low in the northern hemisphere and in most of the rest of the world. Only 29 sporadic cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were reported in Sweden. Of the 29 cases reported, 19 cases were influenza B and 10 were influenza A. Of the influenza B cases, six were typed for lineage of which all were influenza B/Victoria. The seven subtyped influenza A samples were exclusively influenza A(H3N2). More men (59 percent) than women (41 percent) were reported with influenza, but the difference was not statistically significant.
This report describes epidemiological and virological surveillance results for the 2020–2021 influenza surveillance season in Sweden. Data are also compared to previous influenza seasons.
Appendices 1 and 2 contain phylogenetic trees for influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B/Victoria, respectively. These are available upon request. Please provide the article number and the title of the report. The registrar will notify you if your document request entails a fee.
The report has been prepared for the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s function as a National Influenza Centre (NIC).
Related reading
Influensa veckorapporter (in Swedish)
Säsongsrapporter för influensa (in Swedish)