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Where is the flu? Is no one catching a cold this year? – these questions appear massively in many articles on COVID-19. A few months ago, experts said that the fall / winter season could be difficult this year due to the overlapping of flu and covid infections. How does it look in the statistics? Why do we have less flu and colds and more COVID-19?
- This year, the statistics show a decline in flu cases and suspicions. It has to do with the COVID-19 epidemic
- Bow. Krzysztof Pawlak: – In the northern hemisphere, the peak of flu incidence is in the winter and early spring months – January – March
- There is one symptom that helps distinguish the flu from COVID-19. If it is not present, it is very difficult to distinguish these diseases without a test
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Statistics for COVID-19 and influenza
According to the data of the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, between September 1 and November 15, 2020, 578 cases and suspected cases of influenza were reported. In the same period of the previous year, 969 cases were reported. This is 961 more than this year. For comparison, in the period from September 876 to November 382, 907 1 infections with SARS-CoV-15 coronavirus were laboratory confirmed.
Why the decline in influenza virus infections? Many people see this state of affairs in the COVID-19 epidemic. Each of us has certainly heard or read the questions: and now it’s only COVID-19 being diagnosed? Ordinary flu or colds gone? As you can see, they are still there, but to a lesser extent than the year before. There is a simple explanation for this.
— All measures we take to limit the transmission of COVID-19, such as wearing masks, limiting mobility, remote learning inhibit not only the spread of SARS-CoV-2, but also the flu virus. We should remember that we get infected with both of these viruses mainly by droplets – explains Krzysztof Pawlak, a resident of family medicine, in an interview with Medonet.
The expert also adds that the flu season in Poland is really just beginning.
– In the Northern Hemisphere, the peak of flu cases is in the winter and early spring months – January – March. This is because the flu virus is a seasonal virus. Unfortunately, most patients with flu-like symptoms are now COVID-19.
According to the NIPH-PZH data, no deaths due to influenza were recorded in the period from September 1 to November 15, 2020 (similar to the previous year). At the same time, 19 people died from COVID-8.
Below in the table is a comparison of the number of cases and suspected cases of influenza in the period from September 1 to November 15 in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and the number of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections in the period September 1 – November 15, 2020.
| Disease | Flu (2018) | Flu (2019) | Flu (2020) | COVID-19 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of behaviors | 836477 | 961876 | 578969 | 645630 |
How to distinguish COVID-19 from influenza? It is not easy
Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection are not specific. The three main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, there is a fourth symptom that makes us more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19, not flu.
Most helpful in telling the difference between flu and COVID-19 is a symptom that includes loss of smell and taste. In the case of the flu, there is practically no loss of these senses, although sometimes patients complain of a deterioration of the sense of smell due to a bothersome runny nose – explains Pawlak and adds: – In other cases, the diagnosis of the disease is possible only with the help of COVID-19 or influenza tests.
See also: What are the common and atypical symptoms of COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]
And here a certain regularity appears. How do you tell COVID-19 from the flu (or cold)? The patient is referred for the COVID-19 test because it is reimbursed by the National Health Fund. There is no refund for a flu test.
– Some clinics have antigen tests to check for flu infection. I have also used them in recent years. The test involves taking a nasopharyngeal swab (as in COVID-19). We get the result after several minutes, thanks to which we can practically immediately implement appropriate treatment – explains the doctor.
In the case of influenza, causal treatment with the antiviral drug oseltamivir can be used. Patients with COVID-19 are currently only treated symptomatically, although some drugs are tested for the causal treatment of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection. Such drugs include, among others remdesivir, but recent reports from WHO show that it is not recommended for the treatment of COVID-19.
We constantly encourage you to use protective masks, keep your distance and frequently wash or disinfect your hands. Let’s take care of ourselves and those around us.
Are you infected with the coronavirus or someone close to you has COVID-19? Or maybe you work in the health service? Would you like to share your story or report any irregularities that you have witnessed or affected? Write to us at: [email protected]. We guarantee anonymity!
The editorial board recommends:
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- COVID-19 and the flu share many of the same symptoms. How to tell them apart? [WE EXPLAIN]
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