Covid measures apparently suppressed the flu this year

[cmarshall]

 

Flu levels are much reduced this year.  The feared twin epidemic of Covid+flu never materialized.  Probably due to social distancing, masks, etc. since flu spreads in a similar way to Covid.  

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-15/what-if-covid-19-measures-killed-flu-season

 

Edited December 17, 2020 by cmarshall

[internationalism]

yes, but the first wave came in the spring, already after yearly spike in flu infections December-March.

Winter 2020 is just starting (in europe autumn this year is very mild, probably also mild in the usa).

So wait till february,  when it's coldest, and immune system weakest - from lack of vit D from sunshine and other vitamins from fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

This year winter in Thailand is cooler that average, expect seniors and vulnerable getting repeated colds and flues, which might open way for covid.

Who knows, if spike of infections in birma is not connected with lower temperatures also there.

 

As to new york - it was the city the hardest hit in the world, some 1500 deaths per million (that was 30x higher than worlds average). 

Edited December 17, 2020 by internationalism

[richard_smith237]

By next year no one has any natural immunity to influenza, when flu season does kick in, its going to kick in hard. 

 

 

[Sheryl]

It stands to reason that COVID precaustions  would reduce flu. And mask wearing etc is especially high in NYC.

 

But there is also an element of chance, even in the absence of any measures some years are worse than others in terms of flu. Will tend to be worse when strains have mutated to something there is little pre-exisitng immunity to.