EDMONTON – Communities throughout Canada are seeing a flu season with no flu due to the pandemic.
An infectious illness skilled says COVID-19 measures put in place by well being authorities—assume social distancing, masks and a scarcity of worldwide journey–have mainly stopped influenza in its tracks.
“There was a silver lining if you happen to may name it that,” stated Stephanie Smith from the College of Alberta.
“We aren’t seeing influenza. I believe there was quite a lot of concern that we going to have this double whammy of COVID and the flu. Fortunately we haven’t seen that.”
FULL INTERVIEW: Stephanie Smith, infectious illness skilled, says Canada has been just about flu-free
She says another excuse why influenza instances are down is as a result of much more individuals than normal bought the flu shot this season.
“So, when it’s launched a big p.c are immune. However with COVID, that was launched into a brand new inhabitants with no immunity.”
The shortage of flu instances this yr, contrasted with COVID-19, exhibits simply how far more contagious the brand new virus is. And that’s earlier than new variants have been found.
“An individual may haven’t any signs and transmit COVID,” stated Smith.
In Alberta, coronavirus has now killed extra individuals than the final 10 flu seasons mixed.
However simply because we haven’t seen any lab-confirmed instances of the flu thus far this season, it doesn’t imply we’re within the clear. Likelihood is we’ll see extra flu instances within the coming months.
“As soon as the measures calm down, we will likely be wanting on the new season of the flu.”
