As the COVID-19 pandemic rages, other respiratory illnesses have been unusually quiet this year. Fears of a dangerous influenza and COVID-19 “syndemic” have not come to pass as influenza cases reached some of the lowest rates ever observed.
The near absence of the flu might reflect increased rates of vaccination, as seen in the US, but distancing, hand washing and masking have probably played an even bigger role. If these measures are so effective against the flu, though, why is SARS-CoV-2 still spreading?
Rates of flu were down notably in Australia during their last winter too. They put it down, in part, to a reduced spread due to their strict lockdown. SARS-CoV-2 seems to be far better than the flu virus at what it does and, across the globe, people are still out and about in great numbers without using the 'face' 'space' code. For example, there was a news item this evening about government changes to farming in India. The reporter was the only one on camera wearing a mask among crowds of people.
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