The U.S. flu season has arrived on schedule after taking a year off, with flu hospitalizations rising and two child deaths reported.
Last year’s flu season was the lowest on record, likely because COVID-19 measures — school closures, distancing, masks and canceled travel — prevented the spread of influenza, or because the coronavirus somehow pushed aside other viruses.
“This is setting itself up to be more of a normal flu season,” said Lynnette Brammer, who tracks flu-like illnesses for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The childhood deaths, Brammer said, are “unfortunately what we would expect when flu activity picks up. It’s a sad reminder of how severe flu can be.”
During last year’s unusually light flu season, one child died. In contrast, 199 children died from flu two years ago, and 144 the year before that.
In the newest data, the most intense flu activity was in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and the number of states with high flu activity rose from three to seven. In CDC figures released Monday, states with high flu activity are New Mexico, Kansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia and North Dakota.
The type of virus circulating this year tends to cause the largest amount of severe disease, especially in the elderly and the very young, Brammer said.
Last year’s break from the flu made it more challenging to plan for this year’s flu vaccine. So far, it looks like what’s circulating is in a slightly different subgroup from what the vaccine targets, but it’s “really too early to know” whether that will blunt the vaccine’s effectiveness, Brammer said.
“We’ll have to see what the impact of these little changes” will be, Brammer said. “Flu vaccine is your best way to protect yourself against flu.”
There are early signs that fewer people are getting flu shots compared with last year. With hospitals already stretched by COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to get a flu shot and take other precautions, Brammer said.
“Cover your cough. Wash your hands. Stay home if you’re sick,” Brammer said. “If you do get flu, there are antivirals you can talk to your doctor about that can prevent severe illness and help you stay out of the hospital.”
(AP)
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8 Responses
That suggests that some anti-Covid19 measures were effective against flu, including masks, social distancing, mandated unemployment and school closures or maximized telework. Without controlled experiments, it is impossible to tell which worked and which were a waste of time.
This is such stupidity. Whoever believes this should get their brains checked out. The flu was as much around as the Co-19, if not more. How many misdiagnosed “COVID” cases weren’t COVID but the flu- both with similar symptoms. We see it now as well. This ‘spike’ in COVID cases we see now are all flu cases that are testing as ‘positive’ on PCR tests. I’ve seen this so many times.
Even if it’s COVID, for the most part, this is so treatable. Whoever chooses to live in fear, it’s their choice. In any case, May Hashem protect us from any illness and disease, and bring healing to those infected.
Don’t insult the old “veteran” flu that’s been around for centuries. It’s Covid that’s the new kid on the block.
Know thy history.
akuperma > Without controlled experiments, it is impossible to tell which worked and which were a waste of time.
You can get county-based information about flu and measures used/followed there and see which measures had effect
> How many misdiagnosed “COVID” cases weren’t COVID but the flu- both with similar symptoms.
confirmed cases are counted based on PCR tests. There are separate PCR tests for flu and Covid. Flu was not observed anywhere in the world last year, so this information sounds reliable. This year, many people, including here, are reporting “flu”. Based on “horses, not zebras” principle, it is likely that many of these “flus” are the new variant. After someone is vaccinated or had a different variant, then immune system (imperfectly) reacts to the new variant, generating “symptoms” of running nose, low-grade fever that are simply symptoms of immune system reacting to the semi-known virus. These people should avoid going to large meetings, school, office as they are likely to be contagious for several days and learn at home b’yiun, or at least do a covid test to rule it out if they really need a hevrusa in person.
I got balanced in October by having a COVID vaccine booster in one arm and a flu shot in the other. So they hurt equally.
How stupid are you guys to believe this????!!!!!
Are you aware that no one tested for the flu during the first year of covid?!?!?!?!? all the data that shows flu was small last year was based on total cases, not percentages of positive. Therefore, people who think it’s because everyone tested negative for the flu, it’s not. It’s because people didn’t test at all, so there were no cases.
There are two reasons nobody tested:
1. Anybody who got sick automatically tested for Covid, and nobody would ever test for flu
2. Even if someone wanted a flu test, no one administered them.
YWN Is so dumb spreading stupid garbage
Reb E
Booster in October? Almost time for the next one.