My dad has 22.45 wbc with 71.1% neu and 18% lym. no chest nodules, joint/bone pain or above mild fatigue - can lift stuff and doesn't sleep to long or too short. he's a smoker. no sight problems or body ache. he only had the flu the day he gave the sample

Repeat check CBC: This can be caused by an infection(does he have any fever?). It can also be a lab error or some other rare cause which can be looked into if the count does not decrease back to normal(Under 10,000). You should get a repeat blood count done. It is called CBC(complete blood count).

Respiratory illness : I'm so sorry your father isn't feeling well. Studies show smokers are at high risk for community acquired pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. The influenza virus predisposes to superinfection with bacterial pneumonia and based on pulmonary exam I would treat your father for a mixed infection with oseltamivir and either azithromycin or moxifloxacin/ dep on risk factors