Influenza has been virtually eradicated worldwide!

sabat

What a triumph of human ingenuity and public health sciences! No more "down with the flu", no more winter jabs. Swine flu gone. Bird flu gone. It happened mysteriously and unexpectedly around March and April of this year...

https://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/latest_update_GIP_surveillance/en/

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hNNHQMwYwE/X2SQiAJQfzI/AAAAAAAAxSM/LHGbGPSSV_Y1c7Xu6z71a8cP4hqCv9gBACLcBGAsYHQ/s763/Northern%2BHemisphere%2B376.png

Atlantic Dawn

Social distancing sorted it.

smck321

The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have influenced to varying extents health seeking behaviours, staffing/routines in sentinel sites, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.

It always helps to read the small print

sabat

smck321 wrote: »

The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have influenced to varying extents health seeking behaviours, staffing/routines in sentinel sites, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.

It always helps to read the small print

Yes, that explains perfectly why no-one in the entire northern hemisphere has had the flu since April. Case closed.

MadYaker

This was predicted months ago.

440Hertz

Well the flu, nasty as it is, is much less contagious than COVID-19 but would have its transmission impacted by exactly the same measures that we are using and probably far more so.

It's very likely that we have had a big impact on flu and a whole array of cold viruses and other respiratory infections. We’ve made life very difficult for them.

If we kept up even the use of hand sanitizer & people isolating themselves when they’re sick with flu in the long term, maybe we might keep flu a lot more at bay than we have done.

I’d say the flu vaccine rates will be enormous this year too.

If we inadvertently wipe out the flu, I don’t think anyone will be fretting. It’s a bloody awful virus and causes a lot of misery. It’s unlikely though that it’s going to die out in a year of sanitary measures and social distancing.

sabat

MadYaker wrote: »

This was predicted months ago.

I don't doubt that for a second.

sabat

440Hertz wrote: »

Well the flu, nasty as it is, is much less contagious than COVID-19...


...If we inadvertently wipe out the flu...

...It’s unlikely though that it’s going to die out in a year of sanitary measures and social distancing.

Do you have a source for that first statement please? As for the second part-I'm being sarcastic-the obvious conclusion is that flu cases are being rolled into covid19 to boost the numbers.

smck321

sabat wrote: »

Yes, that explains perfectly why no-one in the entire northern hemisphere has had the flu since April. Case closed.

It does though, priorities have changed therefore it isn't being searched for as often therefore detected cases have went down.

con747

sabat wrote: »

Yes, that explains perfectly why no-one in the entire northern hemisphere has had the flu since April. Case closed.

In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza season commences in October and continues through to May. Check back in a few months with the figures. Case still open.

440Hertz

sabat wrote: »

Do you have a source for that first statement please? As for the second part-I'm being sarcastic-the obvious conclusion is that flu cases are being rolled into covid19 to boost the numbers.

No I don’t have a source for that. It’s fairly plainly obvious that whatever measures are taken for COVID-19 will very likely have a similar, but probably more signifiant impact on influenza, as it’s transmitted mostly by droplets.

COVID-19 is known to be more contagious and seems to he much easier to transmit in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces etc etc. It’s basically showing characteristics of something airborne, or at least capable of riding far smaller droplets.

So it’s blatantly obvious that social distancing, hand sanitising, masks etc will have a huge impact on influenza and a range of viruses that cause colds etc.

Flu cases are absolutely not being rolled into “boost the numbers” who in their right mind would do that? Or why? Just think about it for a minute ... ?!

The COVID-19 cases are being detected and confirmed by a PCR test that specifically identifies SARS-cov-2 and will absolutely not confuse it for influenza. It’s a totally different virus.

sabat

smck321 wrote: »

It does though, priorities have changed therefore it isn't being searched for as often therefore detected cases have went down.

Over 6 billion people live in the northern hemisphere. The WHO say none of them contracted the flu in the last 7 months. Does that sound true? And given that all countries have rolled out unprecedented testing on people with respiratory symptoms during that period, surely it would lead to an increase in flu diagnoses and reporting. Before sick people would have stayed in bed for a few days; because of covid19 they're more likely to seek medical attention.

sabat

con747 wrote: »

In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza season commences in October and continues through to May. Check back in a few months with the figures. Case still open.

The pattern in the southern hemisphere is virtually identical.

MrStuffins

sabat wrote: »

I'm being sarcastic

What??

You're joking!!

Really??

Noooo!!!

smck321

sabat wrote: »

Over 6 billion people live in the northern hemisphere. The WHO say none of them contracted the flu in the last 7 months. Does that sound true? And given that all countries have rolled out unprecedented testing on people with respiratory symptoms during that period, surely it would lead to an increase in flu diagnoses and reporting. Before sick people would have stayed in bed for a few days; because of covid19 they're more likely to seek medical attention.

No the WHO says that substantially less tests have been reported to them as positive in 7 months. Again with covid priorities have changed and if you come into a hospital with shortness of breath, a cough and fever the first thing popping into doctors minds isn't "this could be influenza" its this could be covid. And once that covid test comes back negative if you improve you get out to make way for other patients.

con747

sabat wrote: »

The pattern in the southern hemisphere is virtually identical.

Where in your link does it say what you posted about no cases?
This is what I read "In Europe, influenza activity remained at inter-seasonal levels though sporadic detections
were reported across reporting countries. In Ireland, ILI activity increased and was reported
above the epidemic threshold earlier than in the previous years, ".

MrStuffins

sabat wrote: »

It happened mysteriously and unexpectedly around March and April of this year...

And at the same time as the rolling out of 5G as well.

Can't be a coincidence surely!

Victor

There are many influenza viruses and the problem is that they can mutate rapidly. Hence, humans can become infected with variants of bird flu and swine flu.

Additionally, the viruses that cause colds and flus appear to have an effect of boosting the immunity systems of humans. A complete absence of colds and flus could jeopardise the health of children.

There may also be reservoirs of these viruses out there in carriers (people who have the virus, but are asymptomatic).

It's a short-term win, but not necessarily a long-term one.

MadYaker

Didn't realise this was a conspiracy theory thread :pac:

sabat

MrStuffins wrote: »

And at the same time as the rolling out of 5G as well.

Can't be a coincidence surely!

Ah the 5g, gemmaroid, conspiracy theorist brigade reposte. Even when I'm exclusively using WHO information...

con747

sabat wrote: »

Ah the 5g, gemmaroid, conspiracy theorist brigade reposte. Even when I'm exclusively using WHO information...

Post the quote from the WHO so.

con747

Ok I will
Countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere
▪ In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained at interseasonal level overall.
▪ In the countries of North America, influenza activity indicators, including the percent of tests
positive for influenza, were at very low levels. In the United States of America, at the national
level, ILI activity remained below the national baseline except in the 0-4 years old where
activity was reported just above the baseline level. The percentage of deaths attributed to
pneumonia, influenza or COVID-19 was above the epidemic threshold for pneumonia and
influenza mortality established from historical data, likely related to the COVID-19. In the past
few weeks, in Canada, influenza testing is reportedly elevated but detections remain low
compared to previous seasons.
▪ In Europe, influenza activity remained at inter-seasonal levels though sporadic detections
were reported across reporting countries. In Ireland, ILI activity increased and was reported
above the epidemic threshold earlier than in the previous years, likely reflecting increased
SARS-CoV-2 circulation. ILI activity slightly increased across most reporting countries. Pooled
mortality estimates from the EuroMOMO network returned to normal expected levels.

sabat

con747 wrote: »

Post the quote from the WHO so.

Globally, influenza activity remained at lower levels than expected for this time of the year, though increased detections were reported in some countries.
In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, the influenza season remained low or below baseline. Despite continued or even increased testing for influenza in some countries in the southern hemisphere, very few influenza detections were reported.
In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained below inter-seasonal levels.
In the Caribbean and Central American countries, there were no influenza detections reported. Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) activity, likely due to COVID-19, decreased in most reporting countries.

In tropical South America, tropical Africa and Southern Asia there were sporadic or no influenza detections across reporting countries.

Worldwide, of the very low numbers of detections reported, seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses accounted for the majority of detections.

MrStuffins

sabat wrote: »

Ah the 5g, gemmaroid, conspiracy theorist brigade reposte.

If the shoe fits.....

con747

sabat wrote: »

Globally, influenza activity remained at lower levels than expected for this time of the year, though increased detections were reported in some countries.
In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, the influenza season remained low or below baseline. Despite continued or even increased testing for influenza in some countries in the southern hemisphere, very few influenza detections were reported.
In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained below inter-seasonal levels.
In the Caribbean and Central American countries, there were no influenza detections reported. Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) activity, likely due to COVID-19, decreased in most reporting countries.

In tropical South America, tropical Africa and Southern Asia there were sporadic or no influenza detections across reporting countries.

Worldwide, of the very low numbers of detections reported, seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses accounted for the majority of detections.

Read my last post. It's a quote from the PDF on the link YOU provided. Page 4

sabat

MrStuffins wrote: »

If the shoe fits.....

You literally manufactured a "fact" about the transmission rate of flu vs corona viruses just because you thought it would support your argument.

MrStuffins

sabat wrote: »

You literally manufactured a "fact" about the transmission rate of flu vs corona viruses just because you thought it would support your argument.

Did I???

You sure it wasn't Bill Gates?

lan

sabat wrote: »

the obvious conclusion is that flu cases are being rolled into covid19 to boost the numbers.

Please tell me you're taking this piss?

Both flu and COVID numbers are backed up by lab test results. Are you honestly suggesting a massive global conspiracy where COVID test results are being faked for flu patients, presumably with virtually all medical scientists in on it?

I admire your faith in the organisational skills and management of the HSE :P

Supercell

Bird flu, Swine flu etc, these animals don't do social distancing, we may lower flu rates during all this but it's never going away.

osarusan

sabat wrote: »

Even when I'm exclusively using WHO information...

As somebody using exclusively WHO information, post up the quote where they say that none of the six billion+ people in the northern hemisphere have contracted influenza in the past 7 months.

I am looking direct quote of the WHO saying that, which is what you have claimed they said.

Polar101

sabat wrote: »

the obvious conclusion is that flu cases are being rolled into covid19 to boost the numbers.

So if we take the flu vaccine, that's effectively doubling down as a Covid-19 vaccine too. Who knew things were going to be this easy.

circadian

Out of context charts to draw your own half baked conclusion, "I'm being sarcastic" and a using flu to boost covid numbers conspiracy.

Lay off the Ivor Cummins/YouTube tinfoil hat brigade is my advice.

Bit cynical

Proof that lockdowns need to be continued after Covid eradication.

MadYaker

circadian wrote: »

Out of context charts to draw your own half baked conclusion, "I'm being sarcastic" and a using flu to boost covid numbers conspiracy.

Lay off the Ivor Cummins/YouTube tinfoil hat brigade is my advice.

Par for the course in this pandumbic

OP, you should work for RTE : TV and Radio, while replacing the 'usual suspects' in terms of actual real life presenters there at the moment.

The tv licence would then be value for money.

SeaBreezes

sabat wrote: »

What a triumph of human ingenuity and public health sciences! No more "down with the flu", no more winter jabs. Swine flu gone. Bird flu gone. It happened mysteriously and unexpectedly around March and April of this year...

https://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/latest_update_GIP_surveillance/en/

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hNNHQMwYwE/X2SQiAJQfzI/AAAAAAAAxSM/LHGbGPSSV_Y1c7Xu6z71a8cP4hqCv9gBACLcBGAsYHQ/s763/Northern%2BHemisphere%2B376.png

So, the graph you use for illustration goes from week 37 in 2019 to week 52.

And in week 36 in 2019 the flu was magically low too.
As expected during summer months.

Your comparison isnt comparing like with like.
Though that said Oz had a very mild flu winter season, measures taken to control covis, also work for flu.