Encouragement news from health professionals about the New Jersey flu season this winter

In recent months, state health officials have saidTwin demic, ”, Situations where the state health system can be seriously stressed COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears Pandemic in addition to potential spikes in the case of influenza.

Coronavirus Continue to take that sacrifice In New Jersey, Garden State seems likely to escape the feared twin epidemic. Experts who spoke with NJAdvanceMedia predict that this year’s flu season will be a very mild one.

“The defenses we take to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are also very effective in preventing the spread of the flu,” said a professor of biology and molecular virology expert at Montclair State University. One Dr. Sandra Adams said. “So I think the pandemic could actually be responsible for the decline in influenza cases this season.”

The current social distance, masking, and frequent hand washing of people who are trying to effectively prevent the spread of the coronavirus can also greatly help prevent the spread of influenza and other infectious diseases.

“It feels like COVID-19 is coming in, kicking all the other viruses sideways and saying,’We’re in town,'” said St. Barnabas, Chairman of Emergency Medicine and System Director of RWJ Barnabas Health Emergency Services. Dr. Christopher Freer said. .. “We don’t see various stomach viruses, flu, or other ILIs. [influenza-like illnesses].. If you have symptoms, it’s like COVID. “

Patients experiencing symptoms will be given a point-of-care test to test for both COVID-19 and influenza, but Freere said, “I have never seen influenza A or influenza recurrence and COVID. You can see a lot of -19. It will come back positive. “

The Point of Care test is a necessary step in diagnosing and treating patients, but Freere has treated enough coronavirus patients by this point, and those suffering from flu-like symptoms are actually COVID-19. You can relatively surely know if you have. By looking at them.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Freer said when asked to clarify the difference in appearance between flu victims and coronavirus victims. “It’s like a feeling of illness when I see it many times …. When I see someone fever and hurt, they look like glass. I see them every winter There is a certain expression in their eyes, as if they were.

“At COVID, it’s not the same. You’ll see a kind of faded look that’s tired.”

While everyday citizens continue to take precautions against COVID-19, Freer believes that changes in the way medical professionals live their daily lives have also helped prevent the flu outbreak.

“I don’t think I’ve seen everyone in the emergency department wear masks like they do today,” Freer said of the precautions taken by hospital workers. “We are always good at hand washing, but we can see doctors, nurses and clinical technicians come in with masks and eye protection. I’ve been practicing for over 20 years. , I’ve never seen anything more consistent than someone who follows such rules.

“Usually one in 100 patients in the emergency department may have a sexually transmitted disease, but now all patients have these precautions.”

Another factor that can help prevent the spread of the flu this year, experts say, is the simple fact that more people are vaccinated against the flu this year than last year.

“More people are vaccinated against the flu,” Adams said. “And that makes sense. There is no reason to fight two respiratory illnesses. Influenza vaccination can be a way to prevent one.”

As of the week ending November 28, Report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention An estimated 45.3 million adult influenza vaccinations were given at pharmacies, compared to 31.1 million at this point last year.

However, the CDC says it is not yet clear whether an increase in the number of adults will get. Influenza vaccination at a pharmacy It represents an actual increase in the total number of adults vaccinated this season, as some suggest that it is due to people’s desire to avoid actual clinics for fear of being infected with COVID-19. I will.

“This year we have more patients than any other year and it looks like we’re already vaccinated against the flu,” Freer said. “I’m in charge of 11 emergency departments and I talk to the director every day, but no cases of influenza have been reported.”

In fact, as of the week ending December 12. CDC just reported One child’s death associated with influenza during the 2020-21 influenza season.

New Jersey’s best health authorities, And NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Both advised residents Around the state to get the flu vaccine and get it early rather than later. It’s unclear if New Jersey citizens have been vaccinated against the flu on the advice of health officials, but the issue was raised as the University of Chicago’s NORC surveyed more than 1,000 Americans nationwide in early November. May give you insights into. ..

Survey results Thirty-five percent of respondents said they were more likely to get the flu vaccine this year because of a pandemic. Conversely, perhaps worrisome, 35% of respondents said they had no plans to get the flu vaccine this year. That’s less than 41%, who said they wouldn’t be vaccinated against the flu in a 2018 survey conducted by the same company. ..

A few years from now, the outbreak and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be a decisive theme for 2020 in the medical community and elsewhere. One of the silver linings, and in fact the very slim one, is the fact that this year’s flu season won’t cost as much as last season.

“I want to go a little limb and say I don’t think this will be a bad flu season,” Freer said.

On a large scale CDC report Influenza-like illness activity remained at a minimum level in 49 states this week, but ILI activity levels can be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and should be interpreted with caution.

Despite the steady decline in influenza numbers associated with the expected arrival and distribution of coronavirus vaccines, Freer encourages citizens to continue to implement social distance and other precautions. I’m looking for it.

“I think people need to keep it for a few more months to get over this,” Freer said in a much more serious tone. “Vaccines are the light at the end of the tunnel, and we can’t be tired or frustrated.

“We have to survive the winter, and there is light coming to the end of the tunnel.”

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Casey Roland may reach at [email protected]..