By number, COVID-19 kills more than influenza-News-Wilmington Star News

Which virus is bad? The numbers tell the story. In addition, coronaviruses are causing some positive side effects

Wilmington-Do these symptoms sound good? Chills, fever, or fever, fatigue, body aches, runny nose, sore throat. You obviously have COVID-19, right? Or is it the flu? It may also be just a cold.

It is difficult for even an experienced health care provider to judge from the symptoms alone. According to epidemiologists, the need to make sure that COVID-19 does not cause these symptoms, as seasonal respiratory illness increases, is about to devastate the country’s coronavirus response.

Simply put, even if COVID-19 cases are not increasing, healthcare providers may be able to increase the number of patients with symptoms similar to COVID-19, as influenza and other respiratory illnesses may be increasing. I expect it to increase.

Dr. Mark Lipsic, a Harvard epidemiologist, said that patients with symptoms caused by influenza or the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-another seasonally dangerous disease-significantly increase the demand for coronavirus testing It could put a strain on the lab and delay the results further, he said.

“The need to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) will increase,” Lipsitch told Science.

In addition, a person can have multiple viral infections at the same time, disease experts say.

With the advent of COVID-19, some people asked why compared to influenza, drastic measures such as school closures and wearing masks were needed.

The numbers answer that question:

The worst US flu season in recent years was 2017-18, with 61,000 deaths. The 1967-68 flu season killed 100,000 Americans and 1957-58 killed 116,000. As of Friday, COVID-19 has killed 187,000 people in the United States-and it is that adequate safeguards are in place.

Although the latest national statistics have not been released, the flu epidemic of 2019-20 has killed 186 people in North Carolina and four in New Hanover County. As of Thursday, COVID-19 killed 2,841 people statewide, killing 23 in New Hanover County, 24 in Brunswick and 4 in Pender.

Influenza may be paler than COVID-19, but it is still a dangerous illness. And the burden that it and other respiratory illnesses may add to laboratories, hospitals, and clinics makes it even more dangerous this year.

In addition to complying with COVID-19 guidelines, area health officials remain alert about the need for influenza vaccination.

“We don’t have the COVID-19 vaccine yet, but there are ways to prevent illness from the flu,” Brunswick Health Services Director Chris Harrelson told Star News. “Contact your primary care provider or priority clinic for more information on your flu shot plan.”

And he said the elderly should take one step further.

“If you’re over 65, ask your provider or clinic if you’re offering a high-dose influenza vaccine and if you’re encouraged to receive that version,” said Harrelson.

As the public defends the double weakness of the virus, there are some good news:

“Preventing the spread of COVID-19 also prevents the spread of other respiratory illnesses,” said Carla Turner, deputy director of the New Hanover County Department of Health.

“The protective measures we practice today (wearing masks, waiting 6 feet away, washing hands) should continue and will continue to help us during the cold and flu season. We’ll be in a better position,” said Turner.

According to the South African National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NICD), the influenza season was very mild in some places in the Southern Hemisphere, and there were few places.

“The main explanation is that measures against the coronavirus are affecting the transmission of the flu,” NICD’s Cheryl Cohen told the Washington Post.

Epidemiologists say it can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses to the northern hemisphere.

According to the CDC, influenza activity usually begins to increase in October and peaks from December to February. And now is the time to get vaccinated, says the CDC guidelines. For optimal immunity, do by the end of October.

All instances of influenza or other respiratory illnesses that can be prevented, even if it is a milder season than usual, are one small case that needs to be differentiated from COVID-19 and the public Hygiene officials say.

Brunswick Health Services’ Harrelson knows the risks are particularly high.

“Ensuring availability of the influenza vaccine this season is more important than ever.”

Reporter Scott Nan can be contacted at 910-343-2272 or [email protected].