Doctors do not dare to predict what the flu Season This Year, but they think there will be insist more than ever on vaccination against this virus. For two essential reasons: the first, that much of the population is not immunized because the last two years there was hardly a trace of him. The second reason, and it is not minor, is that the one that comes will be the first pandemic autumn without masks. The covid-19 is still there, but the restrictions are not.
All this could generate situations that are difficult to manage in health centers and hospitals. The epidemiologist and Head of Preventive Medicine at Hospital Clínic (Barcelona), Antoni Trilla, yesterday expressed his concern in this regard in this newspaper. Although some doctors fear the impact of the flu on the sanitary system, others avoid making predictions about an “unpredictable” virus, in the words of Maria Angeles Marcos, Head of the Virology Section of the Clinic. “We cannot predict anything for the fall, but I do believe that this year we should insist even more on the flu vaccine,” Mark highlights. Starting in the autumn, Catalonia will give the flu vaccine with the fourth doses of covid-19, as announced in June by the Minister of Health, Josep Maria Argimón.
“The flu has always been quite unpredictable, but since covid-19 much more. This season, unlike the previous ones, there was a bit of flu. But, if other years started in December and lasted until February, this flu season started in March and lasted until May. It was later. Even now in August there are still some sporadic cases. That is why calculations cannot be made,” says this virologist.
Marcos attributes this delay in appearing to the influence of covid-19. This year, the beginning of the circulation of the flu coincided with a drop in the coronavirus. “The flu circulated less when there was more covid-19. It may be because there are competition between both viruses, but also because there were some important prevention measures, such as masks,” says this virologist.
The Australian Example
They are measures that this fall, the first with covid-19, will not be. The mask is only mandatory on public transport and there are no longer capacity or schedule limitations. How will this affect respiratory viruses? “There could be more cases not only because of this, but because people are not immunized against the flu. That is why it will depend a lot on people getting vaccinated starting in October,” says Marcos.
Australia, the leading country in the southern hemisphere, has had many cases of influenza. But this, for his part, points out the Head of Microbiology at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Tomas Pumarola. “In Australia, last year, they had more flu than we did. But we shouldn’t focus so much on this country, because many times they have different strains than us.”
“Not worrying would be irresponsible, but you shouldn’t be afraid ahead of time,” says virologist Tomàs Pumarola
Pumarola believes that it is early to predict what will happen with the flu, but he does believe that the situation will depend, in part, on the type of strain that is circulating. “I think we will have the flu, but I don’t know if it’s like the previous two years or more. We’ll have to watch her.” rate this virologist.
The concern, remember, is that the system collapses. “Not caring would be irresponsible, but there is no need to be afraid before time”, underlines.
the last flu
In Catalonia, the flu season this year began in March. It appeared not only when covid-19 went down, but also when the protection measures for the pandemic were relaxed, As he explained last May to this newspaper Ana Martinez, the Head of the Epidemiological Control Service and Response to Alerts and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health.
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During four weeks, flu cases were on the rise, but much less than other seasons. Nor was it more aggressive than other years. In Catalonia, predominated this year the influenza A virus. In addition, where it circulated the most was in the under five years old. The elderly, who follow the covid-19 protection measures more, have been more protected.
The virus it is usually inactivated in summer by the heat, despite the fact that some cases are being registered. Most cases are mild.