How will the COVID pandemic affect the flu season? | Coronavirus pandemic News

Countries in the northern hemisphere are facing an unpredictable winter as COVID-19 continues to spread during the flu season, experts have warned.

Last year, when governments recommended some protective measures, such as wearing masks, socializing and blocking to slow down COVID-19 infections, the number of flu cases. fall significantly compared to the seasonal average.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) about 20% of the population gets the flu every year, but that number will fall by more than 99% by 2020-21. There were no hospital cases or deaths reported due to the flu last season.

Cases have remained this year lowAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), but as COVID restrictions are being lifted in many parts of the world, as children return to school and continue to spread coronaviruses, experts are urging people to be cautious. The rise in influenza cases can burden health systems that are struggling as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks.

What is the flu, and when does its season begin (North and South)?

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the flu virus that circulates around the world and is more prevalent when it gets cold.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are Four types of influenza viruses A, B, C, and D.

But “Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal outbreaks of diseases called the flu season.”

People with the flu show symptoms such as fever, cough, muscle and joint pain, headache, nose and sore throat. Generally, people are cured of these symptoms without the need for medical attention, but the virus can also cause serious illness or death, especially in high-risk populations.

According to the MOE, annual flu epidemics they are responsible for three to five million cases of serious illness, and between 290,000 and 650,000 of respiratory deaths.

Influenza epidemics in high seasons can overwhelm health systems. In the northern hemisphere, the season can begin in October and last until April or May. In the southern hemisphere, the season can run from April to September.

Could this season be harder than the others?

Experts have said it is difficult to predict the severity of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, but some have warned it could be a challenge this year.

Last year, it was flu activity significantly lower than in previous years, in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres.

With a much lower number of infections last year, circulating strains this year may make it more difficult to detect people’s immune systems, which can make people more susceptible to infections and even more serious. illness.

“Natural immunity is reduced, so with low flu last year, people are more sensitive,” Dr. Robert Klugman, medical director of staff at UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, told Al Jazeera.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, lead researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said people continue to take measures to catch or transmit COVID-19, which could lead to a milder flu season before the COVID pandemic.

“Many people are taking some COVID-19 mitigation measures that affected the flu, such as social distance, wearing masks, being careful when they are in a high-risk environment,” Dr. Adalja said.

“So I think the flu will be more common in the Northern Hemisphere this season than it was last season, but I think it could be a milder season than we had in the pre-COVID season,” he added.

Experts also warned that the increase in flu cases could overwhelm health systems in countries where COVID-19 hospitalization is high.

“We have a proportion of people who can get Covid-19 infections because of immune problems and without getting vaccinated,” said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of Alberta.

“This could easily overwhelm our health care system and also if we add that layer of flu, it would be a high-risk scenario.”

According to Dr. Saxinger, flu season usually “tightens the health care system.”

Can we get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?

Report released by the Lancet in November he said it is safe to give two shots at the same time, noting that giving two shots in one seat “can reduce the burden on health systems.”

“It’s quite routine to take several vaccines at once,” Dr. Saxinger said. “I think it’s a real opportunity because people are much more likely to get the second vaccine if they can get it or get it at the same visit.”

As for side effects, Dr. Saxinger said some people have almost none and others have some symptoms associated with an “immune response”.

The CDC also stated this both vaccines can be given “at the same time,” adding that the side effects are “generally similar” even if they are given alone or with other vaccines.

How can we mitigate the risks?

Experts say a large portion of the health guide that was introduced during the pandemic could help alleviate the risk of spreading the flu.

According to the CDC, health measures Helps protect against the flu: avoid close contact with sick people, stay home when sick, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and cover your mouth and nose.

“The measures against Covid worked brilliantly against the flu,” Dr. Saxinger said. “Actually, I think if people continue to use masks, [and] they are cautious about their interactions, it would make a big difference. ”

Dr. Ricardo Soto-Rifo of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Chile also highlighted the use of masks.

“Facial masks act as a barrier,” Dr. Soto-Rifo said. “And it works in two ways, they protect you from spreading the virus, but they keep the virus out,” he added.

“There are different types of masks that some masks offer better than others, but they certainly help and make a difference.”

What lessons can the North learn from the Southern Hemisphere?

According to the WHO, this year is the flu season in the Southern Hemisphere it was similar to the previous year. In a report released in September, the organization said Australian health authorities had reported that “activities of influenza-like illnesses have remained at low levels”.

The WHO said similar trends were observed in Chile “where sentinel hospital data show that flu activity fell to almost zero in the spring of 2020 and largely remained there during 2020 and 2021.”

Dr. Soto-Rifo said that different variables can explain the low rates of influenza.

“In Chile, vaccination campaigns began to take effect, mobility measures were also well established and the use of masks was mandatory,” Soto-Rifo said.

“So we saw how the number of deaths and hospital occupancy dropped dramatically,” he added.

However, as summer begins in the Southern Hemisphere, and some measures are easing, Dr. Soto-Rifo said there is concern that concerns about COVID-19 cases could grow.

“Last summer, we saw a tremendous increase in cases, so we’re still not sure what’s coming next,” he added.

According to Dr. Soto-Rifo, one of the challenges Chile observed in its winter was an increase in rates of respiratory sensory virus (RSV) in children – this is common. virus it usually infects young people and can sometimes cause pneumonia.

“Children are good vectors of respiratory viruses, but keeping the measures in place has helped,” Soto-Rifo said.

“I think the most important thing we shouldn’t forget is that we’re still in a pandemic, and despite being tiring, we need to maintain health measures.”