While COVID rages, the flu is nowhere to be seen

25 February 2021, 01:47 PM

quote:
February is usually the peak of flu season, with doctors’ offices and hospitals packed with suffering patients. But not this year.

Flu has virtually disappeared from the U.S., with reports coming in at far lower levels than anything seen in decades.

Experts say that measures put in place to fend off the coronavirus — mask wearing, social distancing and virtual schooling — were a big factor in preventing a “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19. A push to get more people vaccinated against flu probably helped, too, as did fewer people traveling, they say.

Another possible explanation: The coronavirus has essentially muscled aside flu and other bugs that are more common in the fall and winter. Scientists don't fully understand the mechanism behind that, but it would be consistent with patterns seen when certain flu strains predominate over others, said Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert at the University of Michigan.

Nationally, “this is the lowest flu season we’ve had on record,” according to a surveillance system that is about 25 years old, said Lynnette Brammer of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.inquirer.com/healt...vid-19-20210225.html

25 February 2021, 02:32 PM

Big John

I think simple enhanced precautions have made a humongous difference.

Sad though that the tin-foil hats/anti-vaxxers see a need to make a conspiracy where one doesn't exist.

I'm tickled to have a reason to wear a mask -- I've been looking for a reason to wear one at Wal-Mart my whole life.

25 February 2021, 03:17 PM

ShiroKuro

I've been thinking that wearing masks to prevent flu is probably a good idea. I would be very happy to never get the flue ever again....

25 February 2021, 04:52 PM

rontuner

Not a sniffle or cough for a year now...

I think I will continue masking in the future while tuning and especially while on public transit...

25 February 2021, 08:28 PM

Jack Frost

Well I heard that covid was caused by flu shots and remained latent until you put on a mask, which then activates it. Same friend who shared this nugget thinks of course that with my covid vaccine I have now been microchipped by Bill Gates.

Jf

25 February 2021, 11:32 PM

Big John

quote:
Originally posted by Jack Frost:
Well I heard that covid was caused by flu shots and remained latent until you put on a mask, which then activates it. Same friend who shared this nugget thinks of course that with my covid vaccine I have now been microchipped by Bill Gates.

Jf

not the tracking device we hold in our hands though. Not evil enough looking.

26 February 2021, 07:28 AM

QuirtEvans

quote:
Originally posted by rontuner:
Not a sniffle or cough for a year now...

I think I will continue masking in the future while tuning and especially while on public transit...

Welcome to parts of Asia, pre-covid. It was all that unusual.

I expect to continue to wear a mask, but only because I expect covid to be around, in some form, even if a smaller threat, for quite a while.

26 February 2021, 09:12 AM

Piano*Dad

quote:
Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
I've been thinking that wearing masks to prevent flu is probably a good idea. I would be very happy to never get the flue ever again....

Yes, as Quirt notes, welcome to parts of Asia. I remember seeing Asians at airports wearing masks years ago and wondering at their seeming excess of caution.

BTW, if you never get the flue you'll never make the fire draw properly ...

26 February 2021, 10:22 AM

ShiroKuro

quote:
I remember seeing Asians at airports wearing masks years ago and wondering at their seeming excess of caution.

I should have written "in the US' in my post. In Japan people wear masks all the time, sometimes it's for pollen allergies, sometimes it's to protect themselves from getting sick, sometimes it's because they have a cold and they want to protect others. It's very common and non-problematic.

The flipside of that is I've been wondering if people in Japan tend to be too casual with mask hygiene, by which I mean, how you handle a mask that has been used etc. I think if we're going to be wearing masks a lot, we need to treat them as potentially transmissive as soon as they are no longer on our faces....

quote:
BTW, if you never get the flue you'll never make the fire draw properly ...

I never make any claims to being able to spell. Or type.