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– It’s extremely low. I don’t remember it being as low as it is now, flu professor and researcher Rebecca Jane Cox at the University of Bergen and Haukeland University Hospital tells NTB.
The flu season usually begins slowly in week 40 and lasts until around week 20. This means that we are now entering the last fifth of the season with almost completely no cases of infection.
The last time a new case of contagion was registered was in February, says the National Institute of Public Health in its previous weekly report. It was also the only case of infection that month.
At the end of January, when Norway would normally be in the middle of the season, three cases were recorded.
Effective corona measures against influenza
It’s not that surprising that infection rates are so low, Cox says.
– Corona measures work very well against the flu. These two viruses have the same mode of transmission and the measures work very well against both, he says.
The week after Easter, the National Institute of Public Health will present a new report on the last two to three weeks. There is little indication that the outlook will change, as coronary restrictions are tighter since the outbreak in March last year.
Another reason for the low infection rates is that there are far fewer trips, which would normally be a major reason for the spread of influenza.
In other parts of the world, there is some infection in West and East Africa, as well as in India, but there has been little flu infection in the last year also outside of Norway, Cox explains.
Warning of difficult season next year
On average, around 900 people die from influenza in Norway during one season.
It is mostly a good thing that there is little flu infection, but it also brings with it some challenges. Due to the low infection, the population’s immunity has not been allowed to develop this season.
Due to the low infection in the last two seasons, it has also been a challenge to choose the composition that best protects for next year’s vaccine. The composition was selected in February.
Therefore, the flu season may be tougher next year, and Cox remembers that the coronary vaccine does not help against the flu.
– It is very important that people get a flu shot in the fall. I think the flu comes back when people travel and there are not many infection control measures, he says.
