COVID-19 Lockdown blocked the flu in several places, but the loom falls

“This could be one of the worst seasons from a public health perspective when COVID and influenza come together. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, told The Associated Press. It was

Hospitals will not be overwhelmed by the “cold” of a duel, as US health officials have demanded that Americans be vaccinated against record numbers of flu this fall.

It is also becoming apparent that wearing masks, avoiding crowds, and keeping distance are “non-COVID-specific” protections. They will work against any respiratory virus,” Redfield said.

Evidence: In South Africa, influenza is usually widespread in the Southern Hemisphere winter from May to August. This year, the tests followed by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases have found little unprecedented results.

Dr Sheryl Cohen, head of the institute’s breathing program, said the school’s closures, limited gatherings, and calls to wear masks and wash hands “defeated the flu.”

Not only did this save lives from the annual casualties of the flu, “it liberated the hospital’s ability to treat COVID-19 patients,” Cohen added.

In Australia, the National Health Service reported 36 flu-related deaths between January and mid-August, compared to over 480 at the same time last year.

Dr. Robert Bouey, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Sydney, said:

The coronavirus has been accused of killing around 24 million infectious diseases and more than 810,000 deaths worldwide in the first eight months of the year. In the normal year of the flu, in addition to the COVID-19 setbacks, hospitals around the world have the potential to address millions of serious illnesses.

Back in February and March, many countries throughout the Southern Hemisphere were calling for a double punch, just as the global spread of the new virus was being recognized. Even if they were locked down to fight the coronavirus, they urged even the last minute flu vaccination.

Jaco Havenga, a pharmacist working at Mays Chemist, a suburban pharmacy in Johannesburg, said:

Blockades in some countries were more effective than others in stopping the spread of coronaviruses. So why is the flu decreased when COVID-19 is still increasing?

“Obviously the vigilance needed to succeed against COVID is really high,” said Redfield of the CDC. “This virus is one of the most infectious we have ever seen.”

He said that 40% of patients with COVID-19 are asymptomatic because they can spread the infection.

The flu hasn’t gone away, warning a World Health Organization report earlier this month. “Globally, influenza activity was reported at lower levels than expected during this period,” while sporadic cases were found.

In addition, the WHO added that the coronavirus is prevalent in people who have the flu in southern countries, which may cause them to feel unwell at home and not see their doctor.

However, international flu experts say keeping the school closed (children usually contribute to the spread of the flu) and strict masks and distance rules clearly helped.

“There is no clear evidence, but the rationale is that they are actually doing really, really good work against the flu, trying to control the spread of the (coronavirus),” Richard Webby said. I went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I am a member of the WHO Committee that tracks the development of influenza.

In contrast, the United States and Europe did not impose as restrictive coronavirus rules as their southern neighbors. In many cases, COVID-19 is still widespread, reopening school and relaxing distance rules even in the cool months that favor the spread of the flu. Approaching

Therefore, the US CDC seeks to record influenza vaccinations, preferably by October. Redfield’s goal is to vaccinate at least 65% of adults. Usually only about half.

More than 190 million vaccinations are expected in the United States, about 20 million more than last year. The state is encouraged to try drive-through flu vaccinations and other creative ideas to vaccinate people while avoiding the crowds.

In an unusual move, Massachusetts mandates all students from elementary school to college to be vaccinated against influenza this year. Usually, only some health workers face the obligation to employ influenza vaccines.

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also promoting widespread influenza vaccination.

To be clear, the flu vaccine only protects against the flu — it does not reduce your chances of getting the coronavirus. Vaccines against COVID-19 are still and several candidates are in final trials to see if they really work.

However, as a countermeasure against coronaviruses, Redfield continues to be wary of wearing masks, keeping distances, avoiding crowds, and washing hands.

“Once these mitigations are stopped, it takes only a few weeks for these viral pathogens to get back on the path they were in,” he said.

The United States is mask tolerant, but most states now have some mask requirements due to statewide orders by the governor or by city or county rules.

Meanwhile, countries where the flu epidemic is ending are watching whether they listen to the lessons the Northern Hemisphere has learned.

“It can be very scary — honestly, I don’t know. But when two infections occur at the same time, it can cause big problems,” said Booy, an infectious disease specialist in Sydney. He says.

The Associated Press Health Sciences Department is supported by the Science Education Department of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. AP is solely responsible for all content.

Nagard was reported from Alexandria, Virginia. AP reporter Victoria Mirko in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

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