No flu cases this year

[Brett Wyman]

But will you ?

I may. But of course wearing your mask is for others, not for you. Id need others to be as courteous. And I wouldn't expect to see mask mandates like there are now. Id just like to follow Japan, China, and others Asian countries lead in just wearing a mask when you are sick to not infect others.

 

[EMom]

Id personally love to.

Nothing is stopping you. Have at it. But I won’t be joining you.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

But will you ?

I don't think poorly of people but I know a lot say it's a good thing if we all did this or they say they wish people would or they say they wouldn't mind doing it but I think if we're more honest with ourselves and less interested in looking good to others we'll admit that far fewer people would actually do this. I think some people will I really do but I think many more say they like it but it's a concept and idea that they like not that they themselves (and their loved ones and their friends) will choose to wear masks during flu seasons, during every time they feel sick, etc.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

I may. But of course wearing your mask is for others, not for you. Id need others to be as courteous. And I wouldn't expect to see mask mandates like there are now. Id just like to follow Japan, China, and others Asian countries lead in just wearing a mask when you are sick to not infect others.

No, that's not true actually. Back in November the CDC updated, after research was done, to this: "The prevention benefit of masking is derived from the combination of source control and personal protection for the mask wearer." They do want to continue researching this further for the impact of this.

I don't mean this rudely but in my opinion you can't say "Id personally love to." which is spoken with conviction and then change and say "I may". If you'd love to then you should do it, not be an iffy you may situation.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I may. But of course wearing your mask is for others, not for you. Id need others to be as courteous. And I wouldn't expect to see mask mandates like there are now. Id just like to follow Japan, China, and others Asian countries lead in just wearing a mask when you are sick to not infect others.

Why do you need others to be courteous? Wouldn't you be courteous by wearing one thus spreading less gunk to others? Isn't that what so many have been saying throughout this whole pandemic? Sounds like you're willing if you say you'd love to so I say don't wait for others, don't base your decisions on others. Do it because you want to Plus the other poster is correct that they (and many others thought this already for months before this) masks are now considered in print to be beneficial to the wearer though they are wanting to do more and more research on this.

 

[Kitty 34]

So I can assume you'll be masking up every November through March then?

Hey, we could use the time change as a gauge!

 

[Starwarsfan2]

I agree with the reasons stated so far. Mostly that the things that mitigate against Covid do the same for the flu.

But a couple other factors are also at play. Flu generally circulates around the world by air travel. International travel is much lower this year, so less circulation.

Also, since flu has similar symptoms to Covid, people are less likely to leave the house to go get a flu test. Even if I tested for Covid and it was negative, I wouldn't want to go show up at Urgent Care with a lot of other symptomatic people and potentially expose myself to Covid.

At my hospital, the covid test now includes flu and rsv in the same swab.

 

[mom2rtk]

At my hospital, the covid test now includes flu and rsv in the same swab.

That sounds great. But the vast majority of cases don't end up at a hospital.

 

[kanne323]

Is there much post-Covid MIS-C? It was talked about some late last spring, at which time we followed it with interest, but then seemed to fall off the radar screen of media reporting.

We're seeing it. We have about 4-6 new pediatric COVID cases per week in our pediatric COVID unit (which is a pod that was built into about half of our PICU), and out of those, we're seeing about one new MIS-C diagnosis every other week, sometimes more. Even for the children without MIS-C, there are clotting risks. We are seeing kids post-COVID regularly in our outpatient clinic- most of these kids were sick enough to be hospitalized, but not all of them.

Edited to add- those numbers are just for inpatient. The ED is seeing many, many more kids with COVID who don't need to be admitted.

 

[ronandannette]

We're seeing it. We have about 4-6 new pediatric COVID cases per week in our pediatric COVID unit (which is a pod that was built into about half of our PICU), and out of those, we're seeing about one new MIS-C diagnosis every other week, sometimes more. Even for the children without MIS-C, there are clotting risks. We are seeing kids post-COVID regularly in our outpatient clinic- most of these kids were sick enough to be hospitalized, but not all of them.

Edited to add- those numbers are just for inpatient. The ED is seeing many, many more kids with COVID who don't need to be admitted.

Thank you for this information. We are hearing next-to-nothing about Covid in children here.

 

[godisney14]

Thank you for this information. We are hearing next-to-nothing about Covid in children here.

Are the kids where you are made differently? Or is the information incomplete?

The public high school that was open in the school district that is a little past California’s capital region has averaged about 18 positively identified cases per month among students alone since October. Currently they have 30 staff members and 12 students with active confirmed infection. They’ve been on and off frequently since. To the point of why even have it open. (It is a region of CA where many don’t agree strongly with all the masking and restrictions.)

 

[Kestryl]

Anecdotally, I know so many people who got their flu shot for the first time ever this season, so that’s great!

And we had a flu outbreak at work last month. Lots of sick people, negative covid test... so they tested for flu, and surprise, it was the flu. So it’s still out there.

 

[Someone28624]

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

Every anti-masker loves this article and keeps linking. This same article says washing your hands doesn't work in their study. Ya gonna stop washing your hands? Or does your common sense (and the vast number of scientific studies that contradict this one article) prevail on that one?

 

[Someone28624]

It’s not only the flu. I read an article yesterday on the absence of flu, RSV, and some other viruses this cold season, but oddly not the rhinovirus.

I work at a hospital. We test every patient being admitted with a full respiratory panel for COVID, influenza, old Coronavirus strains, RSV, rhino, etc. I have seen one case of influenza, no RSV, dozens of people with COVID (small hospital. In the fall we had quite a few incidental rhino diagnosises. That seems to have slowed down.

 

[Pyotr]

Every anti-masker loves this article and keeps linking. This same article says washing your hands doesn't work in their study. Ya gonna stop washing your hands? Or does your common sense (and the vast number of scientific studies that contradict this one article) prevail on that one?

I'm not an anti-masker. I am always in 100% full compliance with masking in any place that requires it. What I take issue with is this notion that masks have gone from a mitigation step to the the single most important aspect of controlling this virus and that the only way out is to "mask harder." Everywhere I go a vast majority of people are complying with masking and yet this pandemic is blamed on this straw man who "isn't taking this virus seriously enough."

As far as the studies go, most are observational studies done in the beginning of the pandemic. I don't know if you have ever done any research but observational studies are the weakest kind. Additionally, most were done in the early period (June, July) of the pandemic and obviously we are in a different point now (raging pandemic mode). If you get time follow up with the places that the studies showed masks significantly reduced the spread.

I wear masks. At work I'm required to use an N95 and other PPE when in close proximity with people. Do I think that the cloth mask is going to protect me? Not so much. I take other precautions (distancing if possible, I don't do extra activities, I don't go out to eat.) Am I bothered by the person at Publix who refuses to wear a mask? Yes, I'm a strict rule follower. I'll keep my distance and move on.

What I really take issue with are the "forever maskers." Once this pandemic is over all my masks will be burned. Everyone needs to do their part and get vaccinated.

 

[mrodgers]

Anecdotally, I know so many people who got their flu shot for the first time ever this season, so that’s great!

Opposite experience for me. Most of the people I know gave up with the flu shot as trust has dropped to the bottom of the barrel. I read an article about Alzheimer's which pointed to how it's on the rise and many autopsies are showing massive increases of aluminum, a carrier in the flu shots, in the brain. I myself did not get a flu shot as I no longer want them filling me up with their unknown chemical concoction, nor will I get this shot.

Also everyone keeps talking about the vaccine as if it solves everything. It only alleviates the symptoms. You can and most likely will still get the virus and can and will still pass it to other people, those who won't get the shot as well as those who can't get the shot.

 

[mrodgers]

I'm not an anti-masker. I am always in 100% full compliance with masking in any place that requires it. What I take issue with is this notion that masks have gone from a mitigation step to the the single most important aspect of controlling this virus and that the only way out is to "mask harder." Everywhere I go a vast majority of people are complying with masking and yet this pandemic is blamed on this straw man who "isn't taking this virus seriously enough."

The old why isn't the flu present any more, because everyone is wearing masks. Why is the Covid cases spiking, because no one is wearing masks syndrome.

 

[mom2rtk]

.

 

[leebee]

... And forget missing in person college classes for my son. That’s a whole other crap show.

I'm really sorry about this. I am about to go back to teaching F2F at a University. Although we are F2F we have to make provisions for students who are absent due to required testing, covid, covid-exposure, and illness in general. It is a butt-load of extra work for me but it is University policy. I understand this and the reasons why, but it is a lot for faculty to deal with on top of all the changes needed to conduct F2F courses. If your son's college isn't being flexible about attendance during a pandemic, I'd consider spending my tuition dollars elsewhere.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'm really sorry about this. I am about to go back to teaching F2F at a University. Although we are F2F we have to make provisions for students who are absent due to required testing, covid, covid-exposure, and illness in general. It is a butt-load of extra work for me but it is University policy. I understand this and the reasons why, but it is a lot for faculty to deal with on top of all the changes needed to conduct F2F courses. If your son's college isn't being flexible about attendance during a pandemic, I'd consider spending my tuition dollars elsewhere.

He is online only right now. I was referring to before the pandemic and why people go to work and school sick. Places make it difficult for you to call out sick. Or the attendance policies are so strict they are afraid to stay home. I hope places come up with new policies in the future.