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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Is the seasonal pattern of ordinary flu different for Florida than for most states?

By Lisa Freedland
NO

No evidence suggests that Florida, or the American South in general, experiences peak flu season at a time different than the rest of the country.

As the Centers for Disease Control reports, influenza activity often first increases in October, peaks sometime between December and February, and can last “as late as May.” Flu season in Florida occurs in this same time period, “from October to May,” according to data on a website run by the state’s health department.

Nationwide, the CDC noted that flu activity in the 2020-2021 season was “unusually low,” probably because of the effect of widespread masking and social distancing measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, the agency notes that “a record number of influenza vaccine doses” was distributed.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control The flu season
Florida Health Department Florida influenza surveillance reports
Centers for Disease Control 2020-2021 flu season summary
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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