UW Health reports virtually no local flu cases this season



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Health officials have braced for the possibility of a “double pandemic” with COVID-19 and influenza in the mix this winter. But new UW Health data shows there have been virtually no cases of local flu this year.

As of Wednesday, February 10, UW Health data shows there has been only one case of the flu. A press release says these numbers contrast with those of a year ago, when UW Health saw more than 1,000 positive flu tests at that time.

“The decline in the number of flu is encouraging because I think it would have been worse if we had a high number of COVID-19 cases coinciding with cases of the flu,” said Dr Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control at UW Health. “In light of this sharp drop in influenza cases, the public may consider wearing masks in public during influenza season in the future, regardless of the COVID-19 situation.”

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YOUR Health flu numbers

  • Positive influenza tests 2018-2019 (as of 02/10/19): 149
  • Positive influenza tests 2019-2020 (as of 02/10/2020): 1183
  • Positive influenza tests 2020-2021 (as of 2/10/21): 1

Health officials attribute to the precautions people use to protect themselves from COVID-19: wearing a mask, social distancing, using hand hygiene, and staying home when sick.

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