The 2014-2015 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere was marked by early onset, widespread circulation, and a predominance of A(H3N2) viruses. According to the World Health Organization, influenza activity began increasing in October 2014 across many temperate countries and reached peak intensity between late December 2014 and January 2015.[1] Overall, the season was characterized as moderately to severely impactful, with significant regional variation in timing, intensity, and dominant strains across North America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.[2]
The 2014-2015 flu season in the United States was considered moderately severe, dominated by the H3N2 influenza A strain, leading to high hospitalization rates, particularly for older adults. Activity peaked in late December and lasting longer than average. As of May 23, 2015, the season saw about 30 million illnesses, 591,000 hospitalizations, and 51,000 deaths.[3]
During the 2014-2015 season, influenza activity started early and had a relatively long duration. Influenza-like-illness (ILI) went above baseline the week ending November 22 and remained elevated for 20 consecutive weeks, making this season slightly longer than average. The 2014-2015 flu season officially began in the U.S. around September 28, 2014, with influenza activity increasing through late November and December, peaking in late December, and continuing with lower levels through May 2015. [4]
The 2014-2015 UK flu season was severe, marked by high excess deaths, especially among the elderly, due to a mismatch between the vaccine and the dominant A(H3N2) virus, leading to low vaccine effectiveness, widespread outbreaks, and highlighting the need for better vaccines and vaccination programs, according to studies in the NIH and UKHSA and other sources like GOV.UK and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).[6] An estimated 43,900 winter deaths occurred in England and Wales in the 2014-2015 flu season, which was the highest number since the 1999-2000 flu season, with 27% more people dying in the winter months compared with the non-winter months. There were more excess winter deaths in females than in males in 2014/15, as in previous years. Male excess winter deaths increased from 7,210 to 18,400, and female deaths from 10,250 to 25,500 between 2013/14 and 2014/2015. The excess winter mortality index was highest in the South West in 2014-2015 and joint lowest in Yorkshire and The Humber, and Wales.[7]
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