Cases of flu plummet across state

COVID-19 mitigation measures help with other viruses, too

The social isolation and mask mandates Pennsylvanians have endured over the last year to slow the spread of COVID-19 seem to have had another effect — driving flu cases and deaths down.

During the 2019-20 season, Pennsylvania recorded 198 flu deaths. So far this season, there have been 13, according to the state Health Department.

State officials have recorded 2,685 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases this season, with 34 associated hospitalizations. Deaths include one person between the ages of 19 and 49, five between 50 and 64, and seven in people 65 and

older.

While there are cases in each of the commonwealth’s 67 counties, a further breakdown was not available.

“Essentially, since the flu season is mild so far, we are redacting any cases under five within each county to protect the privacy of Pennsylvanians,” Health Department spokesperson Amber Liggett said. “Right now, there are cases in all 67 counties, but not enough that it would not compromise a patient’s confidentiality. When there are more cases in nearly all of the counties, the case counts will be listed per county.”

As of Sunday, there have been 913,497 COVID infections statewide since the start of the pandemic. Just in the Lehigh Valley, there have been 56,322 cases with 1,377 deaths.

The flu season, which is recorded from October through September, typically peaks between December and February.

Last month, researchers at John Hopkins University cited the flu vaccine as well as efforts to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic as possible reasons why flu cases are so low.

“More people also received the flu vaccine this season compared with last season, many schools and businesses are holding virtual classes or meetings instead of in-person, and fewer people have been traveling — all of which could be keeping flu cases down,” according to a January news release from the university.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have outlined similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19, both respiratory illnesses caused by viruses that can spread through aerosolized droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking in close proximity to others.

“While COVID-19 and flu viruses are thought to spread in similar ways, COVID-19 is more contagious among certain populations and age groups than flu,” according to the CDC. “Also, COVID-19 has been observed to have more superspreading events than flu. This means the virus that causes COVID-19 can quickly and easily spread to a lot of people and result in continuous spreading among people as time progresses.”

A dip in flu cases this year could affect the severity of the following season, according to Dr. Eili Klein, associate professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“Because of the current restrictions and precautions everyone is taking this season, far fewer people will be infected or exposed to the flu virus, and therefore won’t become immune to certain strains of the virus,” Klein said. “So the number of people who may have more severe infections next year is likely to be greater because immunity will be lower.”

For more information on flu cases across the state, go to www. health.pa.gov.