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As the Northern Hemisphere nears winter flu season, China is experiencing an extremely low rate of flu infections, a great relief to healthcare professionals who were concerned about the possibility of simultaneous COVID-19 outbreaks and influenza this year.
According to a weekly influenza report released Friday by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the country recorded just 21 cases of influenza during the week of November 30 to December 6. Positive samples accounted for 0.2% of all samples taken from some 9,600 people who visited home hospitals for flu-like symptoms. The rate is well below the 19% observed during the same week last year.
During November, China’s CDC had reported fewer than 10 flu cases a week, while the case count last year was hundreds a week. Densely populated cities tend to be hit the hardest by infectious diseases like flu, but according to the Beijing Daily, a local outlet, the Chinese capital saw a reduction in flu cases of more than 80% compared to last winter.
In recent weeks, China has also seen almost no outbreaks of influenza, generally defined as more than 10 cases arising from a common environment, such as an office or a nursery. From December 2 to December 8 of last year, 227 clusters of outbreaks were reported across the country.
Chinese CDC Weekly Influenza Report Charts.
In the fall, public health experts from around the world warned of a possible “twin” during which influenza and coronavirus would circulate simultaneously. Because the two viruses can cause similar symptoms, a double outbreak could hamper a country’s efforts to identify and limit the spread of COVID-19, especially with China’s flu vaccination rate only covering up to 4%. of the population.
But experts said that social distancing and hygienic practices to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, such as washing hands and wearing masks, have also helped suppress the flu.
“Due to the use of masks, not only COVID-19 is prevented, but also flu and other respiratory infections,” Lu Hongzhou, an infectious disease expert at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, told Sixth Tone.
China’s flu surveillance network, consisting of at least 550 major hospitals across the country, also reported fewer diagnoses of flu-like illnesses, such as the common cold, which could include similar symptoms such as fever or cough.
The reduction in respiratory infection rates is notable among both children and adults, Lu said.
Other countries around the world have also reported low rates of influenza this year, according to the World Health Organization. The United States and Canada, for example, had “exceptionally low” flu levels compared to last year.
Although flu season doesn’t tend to peak until January and February, Lu is confident that the curve will stay flat. “The health care facilities are ready,” he said. “My judgment is that there will not be a major influenza epidemic or a second major wave of COVID-19.”
Publisher: David Paulk.
(Header Image: People Visual)
