Flu has flown the coop

Minister notes interesting side-effect of strict health measures

Apart from the lack of new COVID-19 cases over the past week, health authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador are celebrating an unexpected spinoff benefit.

The annual flu season ended much faster than expected.

“We have been very lucky in that regard,” Health Minister Dr. John Haggie confirmed Friday.

“I think we didn’t count on getting that.”

The most recent numbers posted by the Department of Health and Community Services show that during the two-week period ending April 11, only one case of influenza in the province resulted in hospitalization.

In fact, the last four weeks for which results are available show a dramatic drop in cases of hospitalizations after an above-average spike of cases that peaked in early March.

The dropoff usually happens more gradually.

“There’s a huge overlap between measures that you can do to control influenza-like illnesses and COVID-19 because they both share the fact that they are respiratory viruses,” Haggie said.

“I think that it’s an interesting testament to the efficacy of simple hand hygiene, public health measures such as distancing, and the restrictions that have been put in place through Dr. (Janice) Fitzgerald’s orders,” he added, referring to the province’s chief medical officer of health.

The drop in flu admissions helped free up beds, and also helped save on personal protective equipment, since it is also used in such cases.

“It’s been a help,” Haggie said. “The magnitude of that help will require some further analysis, but certainly anything that keeps people healthier and keeps them out of hospital is great.”