(Washington = Yonhap News) Correspondent Ryu Ji-bok = A peculiar phenomenon occurred in the United States, which is struggling with the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) pandemic. The number of flu patients, a typical winter illness, has dropped sharply.
The Associated Press reported that the flu usually peaks in February and hospitals are full of patients, but this is not the case.
He also assessed that the flu had virtually disappeared from the United States, saying that flu reports have been reported at much lower levels than ever for decades.
In the United States, the flu has been the biggest threat of any contagious disease. Every year, inpatients alone reach 600,000 to 800,000 people, and 50,000 to 60,000 people died a year.
It is difficult to quickly collect data on flu deaths across the United States, but signs that flu patients have plunged are everywhere.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, 92 children were reported to have died from the flu during the flu season last year, but only one this season.
“I haven’t seen any flu cases this winter,” said Dr. Nate Mick, director of the Emergency Department at Maine’s largest hospital, Maine Medical Center.
CDC’s Renet Bramer said this is the lowest flu season on record nationwide, according to a nearly 25-year-old surveillance system.
Experts analyze that measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, and video lessons taken to prevent the spread of Corona 19 have contributed to the rapid fluctuation of the flu.
The active recommendation to get flu vaccinations and the decrease in travel after the Corona 19 pandemic are also factors.
Some interpretations suggest that the coronavirus pushed the flu and other pandemic aside, which were more common in the fall and winter.
Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert at the University of Michigan, said scientists don’t fully understand the mechanism, but said that certain flu variants are consistent with patterns that dominate others.
The AP explained that the flu is at a very low level globally, including China, Europe and other parts of the northern hemisphere. In the winter of the southern hemisphere, from May to August last year, few flu was reported in South Africa, Australia and other countries.
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Ryu Ji-bok
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