People are walking on High Line Park on July 16, 2020, in New York. One of New York’s most popular attractions, the High Line has reopened with social distance policies as part of the Phase 3 coronavirus plan. Visitors must enter Gansevoort Street, walk in one direction, keep a distance of six feet and wear masks. (Photo by Stephanie Keith / Getty Images)
In a pandemic that does not appear to have silver mucous membranes, there appears to be at least one additional benefit of prevention measures to limit the spread of COVID-19: a decrease in influenza cases.
UW psychology professor shares mental health tips to get through COVID winter
Due to the fact that people are so attentive to coronavirus – wearing a mask, washing hands, constant cleaning, social distancing, all those things we have developed – the flu does not spread as fast this winter as in the past winters.
“It simply came to our notice then. It was a dramatic drop, “said Dr. Matt Hanson, a public health epidemiologist in Seattle and King County for KIRO Nights. “If we look at this period last year, the beginning of the year, maybe 200-300 cases were identified in a week, and this time, this year, there were 0, 1, 2 cases per week.”
The number of flu cases has dropped significantly this year in King County, but so have the number of outbreaks and the number of flu-related deaths, says Dr. Hanson, who is believed to be at least partially due to prevention. measures taken with regard to COVID-19.
“[In] a typical year, we may receive 50 outbreaks, often in long-term care units, such as nursing homes, and perhaps 50 deaths. But so far this year we have not seen any deaths or outbreaks, “said Hanson. “And even if it’s a little early – we often see the increase in January, February a little higher than, say, November, December – it’s still dramatically low compared to previous years.”
This trend is also seen at the state level, with few or no cases of influenza. Nationwide, Hanson says he is “much less than usual” based on CDC surveillance and surveillance.
“With those COVID measures in place, we see a significantly smaller number,” he said at all levels. “And I would say that is true at the international level, where measures have been taken to prevent COVID, we also see significant decreases.”
With regard to any long-term behavioral changes that could help maintain influenza in the years to come, Hanson hopes that some of the current practices, especially those related to personal hygiene, will remain.
“I think the increased personal prevention we have taken in terms of hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer, being better in terms of sneezing and coughing in the elbow, than in the air in front of us,” he said. the things he hopes to keep. “I think the things that are a little more significant in terms of the steps that we’ve taken around COVID, like wearing masks all the time when you leave your household, social distancing – these are probably harder to see happening. in the long run. “
“I think that in the short term, as we go through this pandemic, of course, all those measures are important to keep in place,” he added. “But I think a lot of these efforts to increase our personal hygiene around respiratory viruses, I think, are improvements. I think wearing a long-term mask, staying away from the people we love, will probably be a little harder to maintain in the long run, in the long run. “
He also hopes that some of the changes that have taken place in long-term care units, which are often affected by the flu season, will also last.
“I would say that there have been many changes in these facilities, much more regulation of these facilities,” he said. “And I think the benefit was for all the respiratory viruses and the most important, other than COVID, was the flu. So I think a lot of the changes that have been put in place in these facilities will be long-lasting. “
There is also another tool in our arsenal, says Hanson, against the flu in the vaccine. There have been concerns that there may be a decrease in health care behaviors, not so many people going to the local pharmacy or doctor to get a flu shot during the ongoing COVID pandemic, but Hanson says that’s not the case.
“As for the data we have for September and October, it actually looks pretty good,” he said. “In fact, we’ve vaccinated a larger percentage of the population than we’ve had so far last year.”
That being said, Hanson believes prevention efforts have contributed to the “lion’s share” of reducing flu this year, although vaccine recipients are certainly helping as well.
The head of the UW virology lab answers your questions about the vaccine
Some other behavioral changes, such as working remotely, could also play a role in small cases. Dr. Hanson says it 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 certainly heard from a lot of people that there is a change in culture where people listen to the advice that if you have a sniffle, if you don’t feel so good, don’t just last and go to work,” he said. he. “In fact, you take the advice and say, ‘You know what, I have something being prepared here. In fact, I will stay home and maybe even call my health care provider for examination. “
In addition to the flu, county health officials have also noticed smaller cases of foodborne illness or other infectious diseases, which makes sense because people probably don’t eat as much, don’t go to the movies, in I generally stay home longer than usual.
“I would say the big difference is that we’ve seen that it’s probably respiratory viruses, like the flu, and foodborne,” he said. “These have dropped significantly.”
Earlier this year, like many health officials, Hanson said he feared a double pandemic in which influenza and COVID-19 infections could occur at the same time.
“I think, as we all know, 12 months have been very difficult for many people. And I think those who have been dealing with the flu for many years, of course, are always afraid of what will happen in the fall and winter and all this prospect of a double pandemic and how it could overwhelm our rather worrying health system. ” he said. “I don’t think the silver lining around the flu can be exaggerated, because it’s dramatic how much it has gone down. And I would never have expected it to be as low as it is to the point of a few weeks when you have virtually no cases. “
“So I would say this is the silver lining. And I think this is a benefit, an additional benefit that your listeners should know, that many of the efforts they are making around COVID have benefits for themselves and the community around the flu and other respiratory viruses. ” , he added.
Hanson says it’s not too late to get your flu shot, if you haven’t already, and tells listeners to “keep those good preventative measures.”
“And when it’s time to step in line and get your COVID-19 vaccine, I urge you to do so,” he added.
Listen to the weekly KIRO Nights between 7pm and 10pm on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to podcast here.