How does the COVID epidemic affect the flu season? | | Coronavirus Plague News

The countries of the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing an unexpected cold winter as COVID-19 continues to spread during the flu season, experts warn.

Last year, when governments promoted a number of measures to protect themselves, such as the wearing of a mask, the inconsistency and closure to reduce COVID-19 infections, the number of flu cases increased. fell more compared to the average season.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year, but that number dropped by 99 percent in 2020-2021. There were no hospitalizations or deaths reports from the flu last season.

Cases this year remain low, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but as the COVID ban is being lifted in many countries around the world, children are back in school, and coronavirus continues to spread, experts are urging people to be careful. Increased flu cases can burden health systems that are already experiencing difficulties due to the spread of COVID-19.

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

Influenza (influenza) is a contagious disease caused by flu viruses that spread throughout the world and are often spread by the cold.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is four types of influenza viruses A, B, C and D.

But “influenza viruses A and B cause infections that are known as the flu season.”

People with the flu often show symptoms such as fever, cough, muscle and joint pain, headache, runny nose and sore throat. Often, people recover from these symptoms without seeking medical attention, but the virus can cause serious illness or death, especially in high-risk individuals.

According to the WHO, annual flu outbreaks is the cause of about three to five million acute illnesses, and about 290,000 to 650000 die and breathe.

In severe cases, the flu pandemic can damage the health system. In the northern hemisphere, the season lasts from October to April or May. In the southern hemisphere, the season lasts from April to September.

Could this season be more difficult than another?

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

Last year, the flu operation was interestingly low compared to previous years in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.

Due to the high number of illnesses last year, the problems surrounding this year can be difficult for the human immune system to detect, which can make people more susceptible to infection and make them more vulnerable. sick.

“Environmental protection is declining, so because of the flu last year, people are at risk,” Dr Robert Klugman, chief of staff at UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, told Al Jazeera.

Dr Amesh Adalja, senior consultant at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said people were still being careful not to catch or spread COVID-19, which could lead to a shorter flu season compared to before the COVID-19 epidemic.

“A lot of people are still working on ways to reduce COVID-19 that affected the flu, such as socializing, wearing masks, being careful when they are at high risk,” said Dr Adalja.

“That’s why I think the flu will be more common this season in the Northern Hemisphere than it was last season, but I think it could be a much shorter season than we had before COVID,” he added.

Experts also warned that the flu epidemic could disrupt health systems in countries where COVID-19 hospitals are high.

“We have a high prevalence of COVID-19 infections due to the immune system and not being vaccinated,” said Dr Lynora Saxinger, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta.

“This could easily disrupt our medical system and once we add the flu to the surface, it could be at high risk.”

According to Dr. Saxinger the flu season often “brings medical complications”.

Can we get a flu vaccine with COVID-19 at the same time?

Report published by The Lancet in November he said It is best to administer both vaccines at the same time, recognizing that shooting both at the same time “can reduce the burden of medical procedures”.

“It is the practice of receiving multiple vaccines at one time,” said Dr Saxinger. “I think this is a real opportunity, because people have a chance to follow or take a second vaccine if they happen on the same trip.”

As a result of these side effects, Dr Saxinger said some people do not have and some have symptoms related to “immune defenses.”

The CDC also recognized this all The vaccine can be “given at the same time”, adding that the results “are the same if the vaccine is given alone or with another vaccine”.

How can we reduce the risk?

Experts say that many of the health guidelines developed during the epidemic can help reduce the risk of transmitting the flu.

According to the CDC, health measures What helps prevent colds are: avoiding contact with patients, staying home when sick, washing hands often, avoiding eye, nose or mouth, and closing the mouth and nose.

“The anti-COVID strategies worked well in the fight against the flu,” said Dr Saxinger. “I think that if people continue to use masks, [and] careful about their connections, it can change a lot. ”

Dr Ricardo Soto-Rifo from the University of Chile’s Institute of Biomedical Sciences also reviewed the use of masks.

“Eye masks act as a barrier,” said Dr Soto-Rifo. “And it works in both ways, it protects you from spreading the virus, and it also protects you from the virus,” he added.

“There are different types of masks some better than others depending on the protection they provide, but they really help and make a difference.”

What can the north learn from the Southern Hemisphere?

According to the WHO, the flu season in the Southern Hemisphere this year it was the same until last year. In a report released in September, the commission said that in Australia, health officials said that “the flu is still very rare.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that similar trends have been observed in Chile “where patrol hospitals show an outbreak of flu at the end of 2020 and will occur by 2020 and 2021.”

Dr Soto-Rifo said different types of flu could explain the amount of the flu.

“In Chile, the vaccination campaign was in full swing, there were more effective procedures, and the use of masks was legal,” Soto-Rifo said.

“As a result, we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of deaths by hospital staff,” he added.

However, with the onset of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and alternatives are being revived, Dr Soto-Rifo said there were concerns that the issue of COVID-19 could escalate.

“Last summer, we saw a number of cases, so it is not known what will happen next,” he added.

According to Dr Soto-Rifo one of the problems Chile saw in the winter was an increase in the risk of respiratory virus (RSV) in children – this is a common occurrence. virus which often affects young people and can sometimes lead to pneumonia.

“Children are the best vectors of respiratory viruses, but keeping those methods has helped,” said Soto-Rifo.

“I think the most important thing we must not forget is that we are still in the epidemic, and no matter how tiring it may be, we need to stay healthy.”