In the meantime flu deaths are soaring but that's not newsworthy so media ignores it....

[Leongsam]

CDC: 32 Million Americans Ill with Flu This Season, 18,000 Deaths

Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesPENNY STARR2 Mar 20206518


Although the media are focused on the coronavirus and the two fatalities that have taken place in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), influenza and related pneumonia are widespread across the country.

“CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 32 million flu illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths from flu,” the CDC’s weekly Influenza Surveillance Report said as of February 22, 2020.

“The percentage of death attributed to pneumonia and influenza is 6.9 percent, below the epidemic threshold of 7.3 percent,” the CDC reported.

Among the deaths are more than 100 children.

“Twenty influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2019-2020 season were reported this week,” the CDC reported. “The total for the season is 125.”
“This number [of pediatric deaths] is higher for the same time period than in every season since reporting began in 2004-05, except for the 2009 pandemic,” the CDC reported.

But overall, flu activity was down, according to the CDC.

“Key indicators that track flu activity remain high but decreased for the second week in a row,” the CDC reported. “Severity indicators (hospitalizations and deaths) remain moderate to low overall, but hospitalization rates differ by age group, with high rates among children and young adults.”

The CDC also released information on the effectiveness of this year’s vaccines.

“Interim estimates of 2019-2020 flu vaccine effectiveness were released last week,” the CDC reported. “So far this season, flu vaccines are reducing doctor’s visits for flu illness by 45 percent overall and 55 percent in children.”

A CDC map shows that every state and U.S. territories have reported cases of the flu, with the District of Columbia and Idaho with low levels and Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands with minimal levels.

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[Leongsam]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/04/coronavirus-flu-comparison/

As of early March, the coronavirus outbreak had infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,000 globally, the majority in China, where the illness was first detected in December. More than 750 people in the United States have been diagnosed, including at least 25 people who have died.

By comparison, influenza — known as the common flu — has infected as many as 45 million Americans since October and killed as many as 46,000, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

[nayr69sg]

Yeah. Based on estimates.

Which is why I do suggest they test for both influenza and covid19. And publish the tested numbers for both at the same time. It allows us to compare the 2.

Who knows maybe the true influenza rate is lower than estimated. Or that covid19 is way less deadly than influenza in which case influenza becomes the new covid19.

However I doubt it is true that influenza is deadlier than covid19 based on what is happening in Italy.

I have never read that Italy health system got swamped because of flu season.

 

[Leongsam]

Yeah. Based on estimates.

Which is why I do suggest they test for both influenza and covid19. And publish the tested numbers for both at the same time. It allows us to compare the 2.

Who knows maybe the true influenza rate is lower than estimated. Or that covid19 is way less deadly than influenza in which case influenza becomes the new covid19.

However I doubt it is true that influenza is deadlier than covid19 based on what is happening in Italy.

I have never read that Italy health system got swamped because of flu season.

NZ system often gets swamped by the flu season.

Late flu season overwhelms Auckland emergency departments

• 27/08/2018
• Dan Satherley

Play Video
Record numbers are seeking free treatment. Credits: Video - Newshub; Image - Getty
Overloaded emergency departments (EDs) in Auckland are begging for people to stay away unless they're in genuine need of emergency healthcare.
About 2600 people presented at EDs in the Waitemata District Health Board region last week, a 6 percent increase on the same time last year.
"Please help us to care for those who need it most by only coming to our EDs if you have an emergency," said chief medical officer Andrew Brant.
"If it is after-hours or you cannot get in to see your family doctor, the next option should be the nearest accident and medical clinic. The emergency department is only for those who are seriously unwell and in need of emergency care."
The uptick could be down to the influenza season's late arrival this winter.
"We are now seeing flu-related presentations. It is not too late to vaccinate and we strongly encourage people to do so via their family doctor," said Dr Brant.
If it's not an emergency, he said GPs or pharmacies should be the first port of call.
"Getting in quickly to be seen by your family doctor or discussing with your local pharmacist can prevent illnesses from escalating."

 

[nayr69sg]

Maybe Italian doctors are damn lazy? Work very short hours usually?

But I dont think so.

They got swamped cos there are not enough ventilators to intubate patients for!

We shall see. USA is taking this very casually. Let's see how USA does.

 

[Leongsam]

There are vaccines for influenza but people don't bother. What does that tell you about rational thinking and IQ levels?

Opinion: Why don't more New Zealanders get the flu vaccination?

• 10/04/2018
• Roman Travers

Just get the shot, please Photo credit: Getty
OPINION: Shoot me now. I need to be shot.
We are fast approaching that time of the year when illness can hit you like a bus and take you out of normal proceedings for days, if not weeks.
I'm about to line up at work to be shot with the 2018 flu vaccine.

I never used to bother with all of that prevention stuff. I always thought it was older people who got the flu and given my relatively bulletproof track record, it certainly wasn't a priority.

• Nasty flu headed south this winter
• Influenza experts says NZ is ill-prepared for a pandemic

But then everything changed. Maybe my super powers of invincibility were beginning to wear thin. I contracted pneumonia two years in a row.

Like the flu, pneumonia is infectious, and it completely stuffs you. I was in bed for several weeks in each case, unable to help my family with anything.

I didn't know how I'd come to contract such a debilitating illness. I hadn't gone around the local supermarket licking trolley handles and I was pretty fastidious when it came to washing my hands after a day of EFTPOS machines, door handles and all the other surfaces frequented by the nose-pickers and bum-scratchers of New Zealand.

This year's flu season is being picked to be three times worse than last years and just like pneumonia, there are vaccines that may protect you.

About one in four New Zealanders are infected with flu each year. Of those, up to 80 percent of the people with the virus had no symptoms - which means you or I could be feeling amazeballs, but passing the virus onto friends and family.

New Zealand health experts say deaths are likely, which is in line with what has been seen in the Northern Hemisphere. It was only back in 2009 when 49 people died here as a result of contracting the A(H1N1) flu virus.

We are incredibly lucky to live in a country that allocates a great deal of flu vaccines at no charge to specific demographics; pregnant woman, those over 65, those with chronic conditions, and children under five who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness are all eligible for a free flu shot.

Our health authorities have updated this year's flu vaccine to include immunisation against the life threatening flu strain A (H3N2), nicknamed 'Aussie flu'.
There is a certain amount of irony when it comes to what we will and won't do in order to decrease risks and to increase survival.
There is plenty of research to suggest that riding my bike with my helmet firmly attached to my head is a lot safer, and yet some still choose to not wear one.
Many still act like a Red Bull stunt crew in the bedroom, raising the likelihood of catching all kinds of infections rather than choose from a plethora of prophylaxis.
The risks are known and yet some still choose to take their chances.
If you have any doubt about the science or safety around the flu vaccine, or any other vaccine for that matter, talk to your doctor or even do some research for yourself by reading independent reports on websites such as www.immune.org.nz.
Every medication comes with risks and benefits. Do us all a favour and get shot this flu season.
Newshub.
Roman Travers is a broadcaster for RadioLIVE.

 

[nayr69sg]

Because the flu is not as deadly and widespread due to some people vaccinating and some element of herd immunity.

 

[cocobobo]

The world population was below 2 billion since earth was first formed, until the 1950s.
It then shot up to 7bn today. This is a problem. People are getting older, living longer, resources dwindling.

So nature offered a solution. A virus that wipes out most of the weak, sick and elderly - a group that drains a lot of the planet's resources.
So what did earthlings do? Shut down the planet to protect and prolong the lives of these elderly.
As an alien, i find this concept counterproductive to earthlings survival.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Flu only kills the old and infirm with greater morality rate.

The rest of the population don't even give a damn as their mortality rate is < 0.1%

Seriously who cares about the common flu.

People only freak out about the WU FLU