No flu cases this year

[Starwarsfan2]

Anybody notice the flu is pretty non existent this year?

 

[Christine]

Anybody notice the flu is pretty non existent this yesr?

That was kind of expected. I think Australia noted similar things over their winter--something like an 80% reduction in flu cases due to more people working from home, distancing, and masking. As for masks, they are more effective on influenza than coronavirus as the influenza particles are larger.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

That was kind of expected. I think Australia noted similar things over their winter--something like an 80% reduction in flu cases due to more people working from home, distancing, and masking. As for masks, they are more effective on influenza than coronavirus as the influenza particles are larger.

I'd love it if people continued to wear masks during flu seasons!

 

[MrsBooch]

Anybody notice the three million gallons of Purell located at every entrance and exit point of every store, people washing their hands more, staying home, and wearing masks?

weird.

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

Yes as it was hoped to be since more people got the flu shot, people are wearing masks, people are not going out if sick in case it is covid, businesses are cleaning more, and many events are not happening.

 

[godisney14]

It's great! With little kids, we would have gotten multiple flu/cold instances by now.

 

[design_mom]

Yes. Turns out that the same things that work to limit COVID transmission also work to limit flu transmission (and, in many cases, work even better against flu).

 

[WEDWDW]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

 

[Pyotr]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

No

 

[MrsBooch]

All of my previous sarcasm aside - i'm actually very grateful - because my son typically gets a really bad respiratory infection every year around November, and I usually get really bad sinus infections, seasonal colds that drag on, cough that goes into January - and we didn't have to deal with that this year.

For the first time since he was born - we haven't had to get him on some type of antibiotics or a nebulizer over Winter break.

I can only hope that people carry these generic but effective sanitation efforts (washing their hands more often and longer, using hand sanitizer, being aware of what they touch and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth) on with them long after Covid is a concern.

 

[Pyotr]

That was kind of expected. I think Australia noted similar things over their winter--something like an 80% reduction in flu cases due to more people working from home, distancing, and masking. As for masks, they are more effective on influenza than coronavirus as the influenza particles are larger.

Not correct. There are plenty of peer reviewed articles showing that masks have no effect on transmission of influenza. Here is an article from the CDC stating the same.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article

 

[Donaldswife]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

I don't think it's realistic that everyone should from now on, but it would be nice to normalize and encourage anyone who is feeling "under the weather" or who has a little cold to wear one out in public.

 

[MrsBooch]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

i dont know, why do YOU think we haven't worn masks every flu season???

I think people grossly (pun intended) overestimated how often the general public washed their hands prior to this pandemic.

I think regular things like that go a long way to help mitigate spread of germs in general.

Also as many people have already mentioned - more people got a flu shot this year. That helps too!

 

[disykat]

Numbers won't come out for a few months, and I'm sure it will be lower due to precautions, but flu has not been nonexistent this year. I had the flu, despite having my flu shot, following all the COVID restrictions and guidelines and barely leaving my home. First time in years I've had the flu and usually don't even see a doctor (so don't get counted) if I get it, but I was miserable. Multiple negative COVID tests later, I was diagnosed with a viral flu that led to developing pneumonia.

 

[RamblingMad]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

We should. But we’re way to selfish.

 

[mrodgers]

It's amazing. Gone, just gone. Just like all the other illnesses, gone.

 

[mefordis]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

I don't expect the mask rules to go away for a long time. Then, I have no doubt we will see mask wearing during flu season by many people long term by choice.

 

[tzolkin]

I think people grossly (pun intended) overestimated how often the general public washed their hands prior to this pandemic.

This is absolutely correct. That was one of the first things I noticed when COVID started being talked about. Even my teens mentioned it.

I don't think I had ever been in a public restroom where everyone actually washed their hands prior to this past year. I was shocked the first few times when I saw everyone in a busy restroom get soap and actually scrub their hands. I think in the past the majority of people just quickly stuck a hand under the water to act like they had washed while a good number just walked out without even making any attempt.

 

[mefordis]

People are finally keeping their kids home when they are sick, something they SHOULD have been doing all along. Now they are forced to do it. Yay! No one has had a cold in my family for almost a year because selfish jerks who used to send their kids to school with a snotty nose and cough are no longer allowed to do it.

I hope they continue to do temp checks and send kids home when they are coughing with a runny nose. One of the best things that have come from this whole thing.

 

[tex1989]

My only fear is that while there are significantly less cases which is a good thing, there is also the idea that not having any germs, or virus or anything else introduced to our bodies we are not build immunities to certain lesser ailments. At some point do we deteriorate our immune systems to a point where even the most non consequential ailments can kill us?