2020 - 2021 Flu Season

[xkeowner]

I haven't seen a report yet of anyone having the flu this year. Can anyone else point me to a report? If not, it is probably the first time in history that a flu vaccination AND those who chose not to take the vaccination have completely avoided the flu. Is it possible flu cases are being reported as COVID? Just asking.

[CWGUY]

I haven't seen a report yet of anyone having the flu this year. Can anyone else point me to a report? If not, it is probably the first time in history that a flu vaccination AND those who chose not to take the vaccination have completely avoided the flu. Is it possible flu cases are being reported as COVID? Just asking.

:icon_wink: Never thought I would live to see the Common Cold wiped out too. :popcorn:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I think most of the seasonal flu has been stopped by all the people who DO choose to wear masks, wash their hands, and social distance.

Even though they're doing it to reduce their risk of COVID-19, those same measures will reduce the risk of catching the flu.

Combine behavioral changes to reduce risk with the flu vaccine that anyone who WOULD get, should already have gotten by now, and you have a significantly reduced total of people with the flu.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

they are different tests for different pathogens, so no, Covid and the seasonal flu are different tests, and are reported separately.

[Number 10 GI]

I have been getting flu vaccinations every year for years and have not gotten the flu. I always get a summer and winter cold though.

[Gulfcoast]

I have heard that any Coronavirus (doesn't have to be Covid-19) can trigger a positive Covid test. If Covid is going around still then so are other viruses.

[Bay Kid]

Who knows what to believe anymore? We have been lied to so much the past year. If this was a marriage I would want a divorce.

[billethkid]

I haven't seen a report yet of anyone having the flu this year. Can anyone else point me to a report? If not, it is probably the first time in history that a flu vaccination AND those who chose not to take the vaccination have completely avoided the flu. Is it possible flu cases are being reported as COVID? Just asking.

Without a doubt!!! (in my opinion)

[Two Bills]

We have been locked up so long in the UK, I have forgotten how to catch a bus!

[graciegirl]

Without a doubt!!! (in my opinion)

I don't think so.

I think OrangeBlossomBabe is right. I think social distancing and mask wearing has kept people from getting the seasonal flu too.

I found this article which is about seasonal flu in the Southern Hemisphere. (they get it first) It is dated in September but discusses this issue.

CDC says seasonal flu cases hit record lows around the world (https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cold-and-flu/cdc-says-seasonal-flu-cases-hit-record-lows-around-world-n1240333)

[coffeebean]

I have heard that any Coronavirus (doesn't have to be Covid-19) can trigger a positive Covid test. If Covid is going around still then so are other viruses.

Are you saying that anyone with a common cold who has a Covid test will be positive for Covid? That just does not sound right to me but I'm no expert.

[Gulfcoast]

Are you saying that anyone with a common cold who has a Covid test will be positive for Covid? That just does not sound right to me but I'm no expert.

If the cold is caused by a coronavirus, yes, it will trigger a positive test whether you have Covid-19 or not. Some of the annual flu bugs and colds that go around every year are Coronaviruses and those viruses can all trigger a positive test. This is what I have heard.

[Aloha1]

If the cold is caused by a coronavirus, yes, it will trigger a positive test whether you have Covid-19 or not. Some of the annual flu bugs and colds that go around every year are Coronaviruses and those viruses can all trigger a positive test. This is what I have heard.

The flu viruses are NOT coronaviruses.

[blueash]

If the cold is caused by a coronavirus, yes, it will trigger a positive test whether you have Covid-19 or not. Some of the annual flu bugs and colds that go around every year are Coronaviruses and those viruses can all trigger a positive test. This is what I have heard.

You heard wrong. The testing for Covid 19 tests for specific antigens on that virus that do not occur on other Coronaviruses. As with any test there are some false positives and some false negatives but interference from other Coronaviruses is not a significant problem

[coffeebean]

If the cold is caused by a coronavirus, yes, it will trigger a positive test whether you have Covid-19 or not. Some of the annual flu bugs and colds that go around every year are Coronaviruses and those viruses can all trigger a positive test. This is what I have heard.

OK. Color me confused. Is there another type of virus that can cause a common cold? I clearly do not understand your statement that "some" bugs and colds are coronaviruses. I thought they all were coronaviruses that cause the flu and common colds.

I just now Googled if a common cold can trigger a positive Covid test. This is what I found.........

Fact check: Common cold does not produce positive COVID-19 test result (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/07/03/fact-check-common-cold-does-not-produce-positive-covid-19-test-result/5366801002/)

[coffeebean]

The flu viruses are NOT coronaviruses.

Yes, you are correct. I just Googled that and the flu is caused by influenza viruses, NOT coronaviruses. Thank you for that information.

[dhdallas]

I haven't seen a report yet of anyone having the flu this year. Can anyone else point me to a report? If not, it is probably the first time in history that a flu vaccination AND those who chose not to take the vaccination have completely avoided the flu. Is it possible flu cases are being reported as COVID? Just asking.

Google
Duck Duck Go
Internet Explorer
Firefox
etc.

[jimjamuser]

I think most of the seasonal flu has been stopped by all the people who DO choose to wear masks, wash their hands, and social distance.

Even though they're doing it to reduce their risk of COVID-19, those same measures will reduce the risk of catching the flu.

Combine behavioral changes to reduce risk with the flu vaccine that anyone who WOULD get, should already have gotten by now, and you have a significantly reduced total of people with the flu.
That's the way it happened in Australia - the government and medical experts credited the much lower flu cases to mask-wearing and other CV preventative measures.

[PugMom]

Who knows what to believe anymore? We have been lied to so much the past year. If this was a marriage I would want a divorce.

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

[Trishakaye]

If the cold is caused by a coronavirus, yes, it will trigger a positive test whether you have Covid-19 or not. Some of the annual flu bugs and colds that go around every year are Coronaviruses and those viruses can all trigger a positive test. This is what I have heard.

Absolutely. Coronavirus has been with us for years

[roscoguy]

You heard wrong. The testing for Covid 19 tests for specific antigens on that virus that do not occur on other Coronaviruses. As with any test there are some false positives and some false negatives but interference from other Coronaviruses is not a significant problem

Absolutely. Coronavirus has been with us for years

I'm gonna go with blueash on this one. The virus test won't be fooled by infections from other coronaviruses; the antibody test may be. This is straight from the CDC website: "A positive test result shows you may have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. However, there is a chance that a positive result means you have antibodies from an infection with a different virus from the same family of viruses (called coronaviruses). Note: Other coronaviruses cannot produce a positive result on a viral test for SARS-CoV-2."

Test for Past Infection | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/serology-overview.html?fbclid=IwAR0_PUQ5Vo_YaMP2RSSZNZu18Nc ScDRt2XygpopooCOp5gwTNl9sA2E6coM)

[golfing eagles]

That's the way it happened in Australia - the government and medical experts credited the much lower flu cases to mask-wearing and other CV preventative measures.

OR, that's the way they want you to believe it happened. I doubt they would have come out and state they've been coding seasonal flu as COVID all across the country. Who knows????
So, if the Australian authorities truly believe the holy mask virtually eliminated seasonal flu, are they going to mandate masks every year???????

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I have heard that any Coronavirus (doesn't have to be Covid-19) can trigger a positive Covid test. If Covid is going around still then so are other viruses.

The flu isn't a coronavirus. It's an influenza virus. That's why it's called a flu.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I thought they all were coronaviruses that cause the flu and common colds.



Patently and completely false, on every level.

"The flu" is actually several different iterations of an inFLUenza virus.

SARS-cov-2 is one SPECIFIC COronaVirus.

It's like saying all home exteriors will warp in extreme hot weather, because you're equating vinyl siding with adobe clay and coming out with "it's all exterior, therefore it's all the same".

[coffeebean]

Patently and completely false, on every level.

"The flu" is actually several different iterations of an inFLUenza virus.

SARS-cov-2 is one SPECIFIC COronaVirus.

It's like saying all home exteriors will warp in extreme hot weather, because you're equating vinyl siding with adobe clay and coming out with "it's all exterior, therefore it's all the same".

Please see my post #16 which clarifies what I thought was true about the flu virus. Thanks.

[chet2020]

OR, that's the way they want you to believe it happened. I doubt they would have come out and state they've been coding seasonal flu as COVID all across the country. Who knows????
So, if the Australian authorities truly believe the holy mask virtually eliminated seasonal flu, are they going to mandate masks every year???????

Total COVID-19 cases in Australia today: 0. Total COVID-19 cases in the U.S. today, 236,000.

Total COVID-19 deaths in Australia for entire pandemic: 909. U.S.: 394,000.

All restaurants in Australia open at 100% indoor seating occupancy, full stadiums for athletic events. Economy full steam ahead.

But sure, let's mock Australia and wearing masks.

[coffeebean]

Total COVID-19 cases in Australia today: 0. Total COVID-19 cases in the U.S. today, 236,000.

Total COVID-19 deaths in Australia for entire pandemic: 909. U.S.: 394,000.

All restaurants in Australia open at 100% indoor seating occupancy, full stadiums for athletic events. Economy full steam ahead.

But sure, let's mock Australia and wearing masks.

Mask wearing should NEVER be mocked because masks DO work to slow the spread of the virus. Anti maskers need to get a clue.

[paulat585]

For about 3-4 years now, first in Ohio and now in Florida, I've participated in a flu symptom gathering survey. (Here at Flu Near You (https://flunearyou.org/#!/?token=25611fffed).)You report any symptoms you have, they aggregate the data and report symptom distribution on a map. They send a survey twice a week by text message. You can go to their website and see how many are reporting flu-like symptoms in your area. Just checked the website and they report that symptoms are down .2% over last week. This info is just for the U.S.