Utah is reporting historically low numbers of influenza A and B during the coronavirus pandemic, said Melanie Spencer, an epidemiologist at the Salt Lake County Health Department.
“It is very remarkable, it is very, very low now and unbelievable,” she said.
Currently, Salt Lake County has seen five cases of flu. Last year, Spencer said Utah had what was considered a “low” flu year and still registered 560 hospitalizations for influenza. This year the cases did not materialize. It is good news after the warnings of a “dark winter” and fears of a possible “twindemia” with COVID-19 and the flu occupying hospital beds.
Here in Utah, epidemiologists, like others in the northern hemisphere, keep an eye on the southern hemisphere to get an idea of what the flu season will be like. While we were celebrating Independence Day in the United States and soaking up the sun, countries like Australia, Chile and South Africa are in the middle of the flu season.
Spencer said the Salt Lake County Health Department looked closely at countries like Chile and Australia this summer and saw that its “flu was essentially non-existent”. With 60,000 influenza tests in Australia last winter, only 33 tested positive for influenza.
Our prediction for the summer, “said Spencer,” was that, hopefully, we would experience the same phenomenon.
No one is sure why the cases are so low, but COVID-19’s mitigation strategies, including masks, hand washing and social detachment, are also thought to be helping us fight the flu and other respiratory diseases.
There is still no definitive answer as to why these measures have almost eliminated the flu, but not COVID-19. One answer could be the ease with which COVID spreads. The CDC reports: “The ease with which a virus spreads from person to person can vary. The virus that causes COVID-19 appears to spread more efficiently than the flu, but not as efficiently as measles, which is among the most contagious viruses known to affect people. ”
The CDC said that COVID spreads via droplets, such as influenza, but can also be transmitted by aerosol.
Spencer notes that we are doing all the things we should be doing each flu season, like staying at home when we start to feel bad.
A weekly map of the United States shows the entire country in green on Monday, December 28, with low to moderate flu activity. All other states in the country are reporting minimal cases of flu. Utah is currently in the lowest category, along with much of the country several days after the Christmas holiday.
Earlier in the season, Governor Gary Herbert made an effort to get people in Utah to get the flu shot. He said: “With the changing seasons, the flu season is once again over us. This year, it is more important than any other to get the flu vaccine. By being vaccinated, you are greatly reducing your risk of becoming ill and thus saving critical hospital space for others. ”You’ve probably heard your public service announcement on the radio or seen it online.
Every year, thousands of Americans die of the flu, although the CDC figures are only estimates: “During the 2019-2020 influenza season, the CDC estimates that influenza was associated with 38 million illnesses, 18 million medical visits , 405,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths. Influenza burden was higher in young children (0-4 years) and adults (18-49 years) compared to a recent season with the 2017-2018 season, a recent season with high severity, and provides evidence to support severity seasonal influenza can be of any age, ”reported the CDC.
Pediatric deaths are tracked in the United States and so far, this season, there has been a reported pediatric death from influenza.
- 2020-2021, 1 death reported so far
- 2019-2020, 195 pediatric deaths reported
- 2018-2019, 144 children died of influenza
- 2017-2018, 188 reported deaths in children
To find a flu vaccination site near you, visit: slco.org/health/immunizations