[ad_1]
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
As the coronavirus continues to plague the United States, the country has also seen a sharp drop in influenza cases.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, authorities know of only one child in the United States who has died of the flu this season, while there have been hundreds of deaths in previous years.
During the 2019-20 flu season, the CDC reported that 195 children died from the flu. Experts say that while the flu virus continues to circulate in March and April, fewer people are infected due to existing immunity and precautions already in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think the erasure of the flu epidemic, which has been seen around the world, tells us that the way the flu spreads from person to person may have been impacted more than anything else. through the use of masks, ”a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Infectious Disease Committee said The Washington post.
RELATED: Influenza infections are ‘unusually low’ this year amid COVID pandemic
Munoz explained that wearing masks has been found to be helpful because they can limit the spread of droplets that carry the flu. Dominant pathogens, like the coronavirus, can also crowd out other viruses by granting partial immunity.
These factors, along with the flu shot and existing immunity, made it difficult for the flu to circulate.
Getty
As such, only 0.1% of influenza tests come back positive, up from 20 to 30% at that time in other years, said Lynnette Brammer, who heads the national influenza surveillance team. of the CDC.
RELATED: Everything you need to know to get the flu shot during the coronavirus pandemic
While flu numbers have remained low this year, experts warn the virus is expected to return in full swing next fall and winter if restrictions on COVID-19 decrease.
However, if people continue to wear their masks and social distancing, deaths and infections from the flu could remain low next season.
“I think it clearly showed that masking, pushing away, washing hands – it all clearly works,” added Aaron Milstone, epidemiologist and professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. “So I think the question will be how much appetite do people have for all of this in order to prevent the flu, instead of just covid.”
Brammer also added that it was not too late for the flu to increase this season if coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
“We could have a maybe small but late flu season. It’s really hard to say, ”she said.
As information on the Coronavirus pandemic changes rapidly, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after posting. For the latest information on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use the online resources of the CDC, WHO and local public health services. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise funds for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a fundraiser from GoFundMe.org to support everything from frontline workers to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to make a donation, click on here.
[ad_2]
Source link