People walk through the High Line park in New York City on July 16, 2020. One of New York City’s most popular attractions, the High Line has reopened with social distance policy as part of the Phase 3 coronavirus plan. Visitors must enter Gansevoort St., walk one way, stay six feet apart and wear their masks. (Photo by Stephanie Keith / Getty Images)
In a pandemic that doesn’t feel like silver in it, there seems to be at least one additional benefit of the prevention measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19: a drop in flu cases.
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As a result of people being so careful about the coronavirus – wearing a mask, washing hands, the constant cleaning, the social distance, all those things that we’ve introduced – the flu is not spreading that quickly this winter as in past winters.
It’s pretty impressive. It’s been a dramatic drop, ”said Dr. Matt Hanson, medical epidemiologist at Public Health – Seattle & King County, on the KIRO Nights show. “Looking at this time last year, early this year, maybe 200-300 cases were identified in a week, and this time, this year, there were 0, 1, 2 cases a week.”
Not only have flu cases dropped significantly in King County this year, but so has the number of outbreaks and deaths from flu, says Dr. Hanson, which is believed to be at least in part due to its prevention. measures taken in relation to COVID-19.
“[In] in an average year we get maybe 50 outbreaks, often in long-term care facilities like nursing homes, and maybe 50 deaths. But so far this year we haven’t seen any deaths, no outbreaks, ”said Hanson. “And although it’s a bit early – we often see the peak in January, February slightly higher than say November, December – it’s still dramatically low compared to previous years.”
This trend can be seen at the state level as well, with few to no cases of the flu. At the national level, Hanson says it is “much less than usual,” based on tracking and monitoring the CDC.
“With those COVID measures in place, we are seeing significantly lower numbers,” he said at all levels. “And I would say that’s true internationally as well, where COVID prevention measures have been taken, we’re seeing significant declines as well.”
As for long-term behavioral changes that could help control flu cases in the years to come, Hanson hopes that some of the current practices, particularly with regard to personal hygiene, will continue.
“I think the increased personal prevention we’ve taken in terms of washing hands, using hand sanitizer, can make sneezing and coughing better in our elbow rather than in the air in front of us,” he said, giving the things he hopes for. that they stick around. “I think the things that are a little bit more important in terms of the steps we’ve taken around COVID, like wearing masks all the time when you’re not at home, take the social distance – those are probably harder to see happen in the long run. term. “
“I think, for the short term, as we go through this pandemic, all those measures are obviously important to keep in place,” he added. “But I think a lot of those efforts to just improve our personal hygiene around respiratory viruses are improvements. I think wearing a mask in the long run, staying separate from the people we love, will probably be a bit more challenging to maintain in the long, long run. “
He also hopes that some of the changes that have taken place in long-term care settings, which are often hit hard by the flu season, will continue.
“I would say there has been a lot of changes within those facilities, a lot more regulation of those facilities,” he said. “And I think the benefit was for all respiratory viruses, and most importantly, except for COVID, was with the flu. So I think a lot of the changes that have been made to those facilities will be long lasting. “
There’s also another tool in our arsenal, Hanson says, against the flu in the vaccine. There was concern that there could be a decline in health-seeking behavior, not so many people going to their local pharmacy or doctor to get a flu shot during the ongoing COVID pandemic, but Hanson says that did not happen.
“In terms of the data we have for September and October, it actually looks pretty good,” he said. “We actually vaccinated a larger percentage of the population than we had the year before.”
That said, Hanson thinks it is prevention efforts that have contributed the “lion’s share” to the fall in flu cases this year, although people getting the vaccine are certainly helping too.
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Some other behavioral changes, such as remote working, could also play a role in the reduced cases. Dr. Hanson says this could be a good development in the future, especially at this time of year when there are more respiratory viruses, such as the flu.
And then I have also certainly heard from many that there is a bit of a culture change going on with people listening to the advice that if you have a sniff, if you don’t feel so good, don’t just put it out hard and get to work , “He said.” You really listen to the advice and say, “You know what, I’ve got something brewing here. I’m actually staying home, and then I might even call my health care provider to be seen.”
Aside from the flu, county health officials have also noted fewer cases of foodborne illness or other contagious illnesses, which makes sense as people are unlikely to eat out as often, don’t go to the movies, and generally stay at home more than usual stay.
“I would say the big difference is that we have seen that they are likely to be respiratory viruses, such as influenza, and transmitted through food,” he said. “They have decreased significantly.”
Earlier this year, Hanson, like many health officials, said he feared the double pandemic where flu and COVID-19 infections could occur simultaneously.
“I think, as we all know, it has been a very difficult 12 months for a lot of people. And I think those who have been dealing with the flu for many years, of course, are always afraid of what’s coming in the fall and winter, and this whole prospect of a double pandemic and how that could potentially overwhelm our healthcare system . kind of worrisome, ”he said. “I think the silver lining around flu cannot be overemphasized because it is dramatic how much it has fallen. And I never expected it to be this low if it takes a few weeks where you basically don’t get any cases at all. “
So I would say this is the silver liner. And I think that’s a benefit, an added benefit that your listeners should know, that a lot of the efforts they are putting in to prevent COVID are benefiting themselves and the community around flu and other respiratory viruses, ”he added .
Hanson says it’s not too late to get your flu shot if you haven’t already, telling listeners to “get on with those good prevention measures.”
And when it’s your time to get in line and get your COVID-19 vaccine, I recommend that you do so, he added.
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