How is the COVID pandemic affecting flu season?

Winter is already here, and countries in the northern hemisphere are suffering an extraordinary cold as COVID-19 continues to spread even during the flu season, authorities have cautioned.

Last year, when authorities approved a range of protective measures such as mask wear, social distancing and losses to slow down COVID-19 infections, the number of flu cases dropped dramatically compared to the seasonal average.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), around 20% of the population will catch the flu each year, but this number has fallen by more than 99% by 2020-2021. No hospitalized cases or deaths from the flu were reported last season.

Cases this year have continued as low, as per the World Health Organization (WHO). Still, with COVID limitations removed in many parts of the world, children returning to school, and the COVID continuing to spread, experts urge people to remain vigilant. An outbreak of influenza cases could put a strain on healthcare systems, which are already causing difficulties due to COVID-19.

There are four types of influenza viruses, categorized as A, B, C and D. The human influenza A and B viruses result in seasonal epidemics of illness known as influenza season.

People with influenza often show symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, joint and muscle pain. Influenza could also result in death for high-risk populations.

According to the WHO, annual influenza epidemics is accountable for approximately three to five million cases of severe illness and approximately 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths.

The health systems get overwhelmed during the influenza outbreak seasons, but with COVID-19 already making a fuss, the medical infrastructures are already overworking.

Experts have stated it is difficult to foretell the seriousness of the flu season in the northern hemisphere, but some have suggested it could be challenging this year.