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2019–2020 United States flu season
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The CDC estimates that, as of late March 2020, the 2019-2020 United States flu season had caused at least 39 million flu illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths. In January 2020, the Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci expected the 2019-2020 flu season to be on of the worst in several years, at least as severe as the 2017-2018 season. By the third week in February the seasonal flu was near its peak with over 26 million people sickened, 250,000 hospitalized, and 14,000 who died. Experts said that the flu came in two waves this season, with a hard impact on children. The season began in October, earlier than usual, with the expected wave of influenza B virus. The number of children who died, 105, was higher in late February than any season for the past ten years. with about 67% associated with influenza B viruses. The second wave came with the influx of influenza A viruses, such as H1N1.<ref name=":0" />
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