Have you noticed that this year’s flu season hasn’t felt like flu season? That’s because precautionary measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 also prevented the spread of the common influenza, a recent AP NEWS article reports. On a national level, “this is the lowest flu season we’ve had on record,” according to records that go back 25 years, said Lynnette Brammer from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Earlier in the fall, the public was encouraged to seek flu vaccines to prevent a “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19, and apparently we listened. Social distancing, limited capacity at bars and restaurants, and virtual schooling also contributed to the virtual disappearance of the flu. Flu death data is difficult to compile quickly, but the CDC tracks a running count of child deaths and this year there has been just one pediatric flu death, compared to 92 at this time last year.
