Flu and Covid: winter could bring 'double-barrel' outbreak to US, experts say

[JacksinPA]

Flu and Covid: winter could bring 'double-barrel' outbreak to US, experts say | World news | The Guardian

But the same measures that fight coronavirus are effective against the flu – and vaccines offer another weapon against it

Public health experts, researchers and manufacturers warn the coming flu season could bring a “double-barrel” respiratory disease outbreak in the United States, just as fall and winter are expected to exacerbate the spread of Covid-19.

At the same time, researchers said the strategies currently used to prevent Covid-19 transmission – namely, hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing – could also help lessen flu outbreaks, if Americans are willing to practice them.

“We will be faced with basically a double-barrel respiratory virus season, both influenza and Covid,” said Dr William Schaffner, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee.

Flu season typically peaks between December and February in the northern hemisphere. It caused an estimated 61,000 deaths and 810,000 hospitalizations in 2019 in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

By comparison, Covid-19 has killed more than 166,000 people in the US with months to go before the end of the year, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The disease hospitalized an estimated 293,000 people just between March and May 2020, according to the healthcare consulting firm Avalere. Those deaths and infections also occurred despite huge efforts – such as shutting down large parts of the US economy – being put into action to slow the virus’s path.

While the flu’s seasonality is not clearly understood, the way it spreads is well documented. Flu is transmitted in much the same way Covid-19 spreads: coughs, sputters and sneezes in close proximity in closed spaces and in crowds. For those reasons, social distancing measures are effective against influenza as well as Covid-19 and were practiced during the deadly 1918 flu pandemic.

(more)
==============================================================================
This late year season promises to be a bitch,

 

[Helix]

at least i can get a flu shot.

i'll tell you, the "other illness" thing is a big worry for me. my kiddo got a sniffle, and so did my wife. i was concerned that i wouldn't be able to work if i had any symptoms, and i have tons of work. i have been addressing my allergies more, too, so that no one gives me the side eye. i think if i did my usual allergic sneezing all day at work these days, they'd probably frog march me out while wearing hazmat suits.

 

[JacksinPA]

at least i can get a flu shot.

i'll tell you, the "other illness" thing is a big worry for me. my kiddo got a sniffle, and so did my wife. i was concerned that i wouldn't be able to work if i had any symptoms, and i have tons of work. i have been addressing my allergies more, too, so that no one gives me the side eye. i think if i did my usual allergic sneezing all day at work these days, they'd probably frog march me out while wearing hazmat suits.

Wear a mask to protect everyone else.

The market for new design masks is rapidly growing but I don't truth the ads when I don't see the specs.

 

[Helix]

Wear a mask to protect everyone else.

The market for new design masks is rapidly growing but I don't truth the ads when I don't see the specs.

we have to change ours every few hours at work. I wear a mask and borrowed lab goggles in public, and often gloves.

 

[Thom Paine]

picturing you being marched out is a funny image
But is Not in real life.
Under a bandana, I cleared my throat, Slowly turning in line, anyone within 20 feet was
staring at me; some with obvious fear.
Interesting, the fearful eyes were from those who appeared under 40 ( as best as I could tell) ..
Older folk just stared .... maybe it was my imagination but I don't think so.
Anyway, hope you don't get caught up in others' fears.
best to you and yours' Helix

 

[Helix]

picturing you being marched out is a funny image
But is Not in real life.
Under a bandana, I cleared my throat, Slowly turning in line, anyone within 20 feet was
staring at me; some with obvious fear.
Interesting, the fearful eyes were from those who appeared under 40 ( as best as I could tell) ..
Older folk just stared .... maybe it was my imagination but I don't think so.
Anyway, hope you don't get caught up in others' fears.
best to you and yours' Helix

And the same to you and yours.

Every allergic sneeze at work makes me feel like people are going to look at me like the guy melting down on the plane on Outbreak.

 

[Risky Thicket]

at least i can get a flu shot.

i'll tell you, the "other illness" thing is a big worry for me. my kiddo got a sniffle, and so did my wife. i was concerned that i wouldn't be able to work if i had any symptoms, and i have tons of work. i have been addressing my allergies more, too, so that no one gives me the side eye. i think if i did my usual allergic sneezing all day at work these days, they'd probably frog march me out while wearing hazmat suits.

Drink a gallon of bleach and sit on a black light. :wink2:


I got a pneumonia shot 2 days ago and I'm going to get a flu shot, my first ever, next month.

While at my doc's to get the pneumonia shot I talked to him about my never ending allergies to who the hell knows what. I sneeze in the kitchen no matter what I am doing or not doing. I sneeze in the bedroom for no apparent reason. Sometimes my nose runs for no apparent reason and only for a few minutes. What the hell? Often my eyes itch.

I know it isn't COVID, I've had it for years. The doc said he could send me to an allergy specialist but it would be easier to try a few over the counter drugs for a while and see.

 

[Chomsky]

Flu and Covid: winter could bring 'double-barrel' outbreak to US, experts say | World news | The Guardian

But the same measures that fight coronavirus are effective against the flu – and vaccines offer another weapon against it

Public health experts, researchers and manufacturers warn the coming flu season could bring a “double-barrel” respiratory disease outbreak in the United States, just as fall and winter are expected to exacerbate the spread of Covid-19.

At the same time, researchers said the strategies currently used to prevent Covid-19 transmission – namely, hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing – could also help lessen flu outbreaks, if Americans are willing to practice them.

“We will be faced with basically a double-barrel respiratory virus season, both influenza and Covid,” said Dr William Schaffner, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee.

Flu season typically peaks between December and February in the northern hemisphere. It caused an estimated 61,000 deaths and 810,000 hospitalizations in 2019 in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

By comparison, Covid-19 has killed more than 166,000 people in the US with months to go before the end of the year, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The disease hospitalized an estimated 293,000 people just between March and May 2020, according to the healthcare consulting firm Avalere. Those deaths and infections also occurred despite huge efforts – such as shutting down large parts of the US economy – being put into action to slow the virus’s path.

While the flu’s seasonality is not clearly understood, the way it spreads is well documented. Flu is transmitted in much the same way Covid-19 spreads: coughs, sputters and sneezes in close proximity in closed spaces and in crowds. For those reasons, social distancing measures are effective against influenza as well as Covid-19 and were practiced during the deadly 1918 flu pandemic.

(more)
==============================================================================
This late year season promises to be a bitch,

My family & I have been remarking on how we have not been sick at all this year. Not one of us sick. Not all year.

Obviously, it's due to our taking Covid precautions. And it's for this reason I believe we will have a very mild flu season this year.

 

[Chomsky]

at least i can get a flu shot.

i'll tell you, the "other illness" thing is a big worry for me. my kiddo got a sniffle, and so did my wife. i was concerned that i wouldn't be able to work if i had any symptoms, and i have tons of work. i have been addressing my allergies more, too, so that no one gives me the side eye. i think if i did my usual allergic sneezing all day at work these days, they'd probably frog march me out while wearing hazmat suits.

I believe due to our Covid precautions, we are all much healthier and suffering less afflictions. At least that is the anecdotal evidence of what's occurring to my family.

So, there is something good coming from this. And I believe we will likely carry along many of the good habits we've acquired, even after Covid is on the wain. That's a good thing.

 

[Acadia]

Got my flu shot already.
My prediction is that we'll see less cold and flu, after being inundated with social distancing, hand washing, no handshaking etc.

 

[Chomsky]

we have to change ours every few hours at work. I wear a mask and borrowed lab goggles in public, and often gloves.

Wow! You don't mess around!

 

[Chomsky]

Got my flu shot already.
My prediction is that we'll see less cold and flu, after being inundated with social distancing, hand washing, no handshaking etc.

Without a doubt!

 

[Thom Paine]

And the same to you and yours.

Every allergic sneeze at work makes me feel like people are going to look at me like the guy melting down on the plane on Outbreak.

Understand that; I have epiglottis malfunctions... Never sure I want to look at thousands pointing their fingers at me ... :lol:

 

[Helix]

Drink a gallon of bleach and sit on a black light. :wink2:


I got a pneumonia shot 2 days ago and I'm going to get a flu shot, my first ever, next month.

While at my doc's to get the pneumonia shot I talked to him about my never ending allergies to who the hell knows what. I sneeze in the kitchen no matter what I am doing or not doing. I sneeze in the bedroom for no apparent reason. Sometimes my nose runs for no apparent reason and only for a few minutes. What the hell? Often my eyes itch.

I know it isn't COVID, I've had it for years. The doc said he could send me to an allergy specialist but it would be easier to try a few over the counter drugs for a while and see.

my allergies are pretty bad, and they wanted to roto rooter my sinuses because my nose should probably just be amputated. However, I like the way it looks, so I said no. So far, it has been behaving admirably, and for everything else, there's Afrin and Benedryl.

 

[Helix]

I believe due to our Covid precautions, we are all much healthier and suffering less afflictions. At least that is the anecdotal evidence of what's occurring to my family.

So, there is something good coming from this. And I believe we will likely carry along many of the good habits we've acquired, even after Covid is on the wain. That's a good thing.

now most people are as afraid of getting sick as I have been for many years. Hooray?

 

[Helix]

Wow! You don't mess around!

oh, man. i picked up shielded glasses for my wife, too. i was like "i have found a gap in our strategy. the virus can also enter through the eyes, so if we wear these, we might improve our level of protection!"

i'd say that she gave me the side eye, but she didn't even flinch. she knows that i'm basically Sheldon.

:lol:

 

[Chomsky]

oh, man. i picked up shielded glasses for my wife, too. i was like "i have found a gap in our strategy. the virus can also enter through the eyes, so if we wear these, we might improve our level of protection!"

i'd say that she gave me the side eye, but she didn't even flinch. she knows that i'm basically Sheldon.

:lol:

I can say some high-contact employees at several grocers I frequent wear face shields. I don't feel the need to go that far as a customer, but might if I were one of the employees. I think eyeglasses/sunglasses are enough, for customers & the general public.

But I do use a glove on one hand when going shopping, though. Other family members prefer to go bare-handed, and use sanitizer afterwards. But the idea of that door handle getting hundreds of bare-handed uses an hour, gives me the heebee-geebees! Ditto for the damn debit card swipe-machine at the registers! I'd rather wear the glove and keep my hand clean, than take a chance and disinfect it. That's my logic, anyway.

I am fortunate that my area strongly enforces mask use, and my fellow citizens seem to be highly compliant. Some don't wear it outdoors though, when keeping their distance, which I suppose is fair. But indoors, I'm pretty much seeing 100% compliance. I am comforted by that. While social distancing seems to be well kept in the queues to go inside or when at the registers, it can fall short in the aisles and elsewhere. Some are very good with it, while others are not. But most will respectfully oblige if I give them a small sign or word.

The only real complaint I have, is some store stocking-personal insist on getting right up in your face. This doesn't occur with the customer service employees, but with the stocking people. I don't know what the hell it is, but they almost universally seem to step-up and get close, direct, and forcefully speak, whenever I involve them in conversation.

Yeah, they have masks, but still it's not what I want. Usually, if I give them a friendly 'palm out' hand signal, and/or use a friendly tone of voice to tell them, 'I'd like to keep a little distance', they immediate realize they've infringed upon my personal space, apologize, and back off. I suspect they simply forget, or get carried away in their desire to assist me. But it occurs so often, I now only very rarely ask for assistance any more. Not really their fault I guess. They're just not thinking. But it leads me to believe they are not keeping proper distancing in the back rooms and docks with their fellow employees, and then they forget when they're working the front of the store where the customers are.

Oh well, this last thing is pretty minor in the bigger scheme of things. I'm damn proud of my fellow neighbor-citizens that are working hard alongside me to battle this thing. And I go out of my way to compliment, thank, and praise them - whenever I appropriately can. We're all in this together. We're going to sink or swim, together. So I figure it's my job to help those around me to keep moving in the right direction. A kind word can go far in that, I believe.

 

[Helix]

I can say some high-contact employees at several grocers I frequent wear face shields. I don't feel the need to go that far as a customer, but might if I were one of the employees. I think eyeglasses/sunglasses are enough, for customers & the general public.

But I do use a glove on one hand when going shopping, though. Other family members prefer to go bare-handed, and use sanitizer afterwards. But the idea of that door handle getting hundreds of bare-handed uses an hour, gives me the heebee-geebees! Ditto for the damn debit card swipe-machine at the registers! I'd rather wear the glove and keep my hand clean, than take a chance and disinfect it. That's my logic, anyway.

I am fortunate that my area strongly enforces mask use, and my fellow citizens seem to be highly compliant. Some don't wear it outdoors though, when keeping their distance, which I suppose is fair. But indoors, I'm pretty much seeing 100% compliance. I am comforted by that. While social distancing seems to be well kept in the queues to go inside or when at the registers, it can fall short in the aisles and elsewhere. Some are very good with it, while others are not. But most will respectfully oblige if I give them a small sign or word.

The only real complaint I have, is some store stocking-personal insist on getting right up in your face. This doesn't occur with the customer service employees, but with the stocking people. I don't know what the hell it is, but they almost universally seem to step-up and get close, direct, and forcefully speak, whenever I involve them in conversation.

Yeah, they have masks, but still it's not what I want. Usually, if I give them a friendly 'palm out' hand signal, and/or use a friendly tone of voice to tell them, 'I'd like to keep a little distance', they immediate realize they've infringed upon my personal space, apologize, and back off. I suspect they simply forget, or get carried away in their desire to assist me. But it occurs so often, I now only very rarely ask for assistance any more. Not really their fault I guess. They're just not thinking. But it leads me to believe they are not keeping proper distancing in the back rooms and docks with their fellow employees, then they forget when they're working the front of the store where the customers are.

Oh well, this last thing is pretty minor in the bigger scheme of things. I'm damn proud of my fellow neighbor-citizens that are working hard alongside me to battle this thing. And I go out of my way to compliment, thank, and praise them - whenever I appropriately can. We're all in this together. We're going to sink or swim, together. So I figure it's my job to help those around me to keep moving in the right direction. A kind word can go far in that, I believe.

your mind and heart are in the right place. hopefully, we'll all make it through this. the people that i work with are mostly being careful. i'm happy about that. i hope that my wife and kiddo are safe. that's my bigger worry. i don't know as much about their exposure.

 

[Chomsky]

your mind and heart are in the right place. hopefully, we'll all make it through this. the people that i work with are mostly being careful. i'm happy about that. i hope that my wife and kiddo are safe. that's my bigger worry. i don't know as much about their exposure.

Thanks for the compliment. But it's my neighbors that inspire & motivate me. I think those of us in the major metro areas that got hit early, and hit hard, gained a fast appreciation of this thing. I sincerely am proud of what we did (in response), and where we are. It starts at the top with having a serious governor that listens to his universities.

But that pride & satisfaction over the effort we put out, makes me even more critical of those that act irresponsibly. Which is why I'm pissed to **** at Trump, his governors, and those citizens that allowed this thing to boomerang and blow back up, after we had essentially quelled it. Unfortunately, pandemic fighting is a team sport. We're only as good as our weakest links. And when I see things like a governor in GA making it illegal to require a mask anywhere in his state, well ... my blood boils. That's a weak link that needs to be replaced, without a doubt.

 

[Mongidig]

Flu and Covid: winter could bring 'double-barrel' outbreak to US, experts say | World news | The Guardian

But the same measures that fight coronavirus are effective against the flu – and vaccines offer another weapon against it

Public health experts, researchers and manufacturers warn the coming flu season could bring a “double-barrel” respiratory disease outbreak in the United States, just as fall and winter are expected to exacerbate the spread of Covid-19.

At the same time, researchers said the strategies currently used to prevent Covid-19 transmission – namely, hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing – could also help lessen flu outbreaks, if Americans are willing to practice them.

“We will be faced with basically a double-barrel respiratory virus season, both influenza and Covid,” said Dr William Schaffner, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee.

Flu season typically peaks between December and February in the northern hemisphere. It caused an estimated 61,000 deaths and 810,000 hospitalizations in 2019 in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

By comparison, Covid-19 has killed more than 166,000 people in the US with months to go before the end of the year, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The disease hospitalized an estimated 293,000 people just between March and May 2020, according to the healthcare consulting firm Avalere. Those deaths and infections also occurred despite huge efforts – such as shutting down large parts of the US economy – being put into action to slow the virus’s path.

While the flu’s seasonality is not clearly understood, the way it spreads is well documented. Flu is transmitted in much the same way Covid-19 spreads: coughs, sputters and sneezes in close proximity in closed spaces and in crowds. For those reasons, social distancing measures are effective against influenza as well as Covid-19 and were practiced during the deadly 1918 flu pandemic.

(more)
==============================================================================
This late year season promises to be a bitch,

I don't think so. I think the C19 will be down. We will have more saliva testing and better ability to contact trace. There will be much less social mobility compared to other years due to mitigations so less flu as well. We will have much better knowledge and technology to fight this virus.

Take a deep breath! It's gonna be alright.

 

[Helix]

Thanks for the compliment. But it's my neighbors that inspire & motivate me. I think those of us in the major metro areas that got hit early, and hit hard, gained a fast appreciation of this thing. I sincerely am proud of what we did (in response), and where we are. It starts at the top with having a serious governor that listens to his universities.

But that pride & satisfaction over the effort we put out, makes me even more critical of those that act irresponsibly. Which is why I'm pissed to **** at Trump, his governors, and those citizens that allowed this thing to boomerang and blow back up, after we had essentially quelled it. Unfortunately, pandemic fighting is a team sport. We're only as good as our weakest links. And when I see things like a governor in GA making it illegal to require a mask anywhere in his state, well ... my blood boils. That's a weak link that needs to be replaced, without a doubt.

agreed. i respect those who are really on the frontlines during this pandemic. i have been back at work basically since April, but i don't directly treat patients or work in customer service. many people have risked a lot to keep our society going, and that is beyond admirable. kudos to all of them.

 

[Chomsky]

agreed. i respect those who are really on the frontlines during this pandemic. i have been back at work basically since April, but i don't directly treat patients or work in customer service. many people have risked a lot to keep our society going, and that is beyond admirable. kudos to all of them.

Yep. And that's why I think it's important we sincerely compliment them. Those kids & adults working the registers at the supermarket, standing behind a plexi-glass shield, exposing themselves to hundreds of strangers a day, every day, are lucky to make 25-30K a year and no or **** benefits. You better believe I'm going to let them know I appreciate what they do. And I let them know we're in it together, it won't last forever, and we'll be better next year - so hang in there.

I grew-up blue-collar working-class. Immigrants, actually. Not me, but my family and neighbors. That experience gave me the strongest appreciation for the working-class heroes of everyday life, despite John Lennon's derogatory social commentary on his tune of the same name. I saw heroism everyday in those around me, including my own family. So, I'm happy to see those cashiers and other support people as my everyday heroes - because they are. They have the same stuff I saw growing-up. I wouldn't do what they're doing. But I'm damn appreciative of them doing it for me.

 

[Risky Thicket]

my allergies are pretty bad, and they wanted to roto rooter my sinuses because my nose should probably just be amputated. However, I like the way it looks, so I said no. So far, it has been behaving admirably, and for everything else, there's Afrin and Benedryl.

Yeah, my doc said Allegra or Benedryl and Flonase.

Long ago I had the nose/sinus thing done. Whatever they used reminded me of a long, long cylinder of cotton skewered by a knitting needle that had been dipped in something brown. They crammed one in each nostril. I felt like the needle things were going to come out the back of my head. Then they put me under a heat lamp and told me to relax. Oh, sure. It was not fun. I was ready to tell them secrets I didn't even know just to have them stop the torture.

The nose kabab worked. No problem after that. Now I'm probably allergic to dirt. Try living in Arizona and avoiding dirt and dust.

I have no doubt the procedure is much different now, Helix, so no worries.

 

[year2late]

at least i can get a flu shot.

i'll tell you, the "other illness" thing is a big worry for me. my kiddo got a sniffle, and so did my wife. i was concerned that i wouldn't be able to work if i had any symptoms, and i have tons of work. i have been addressing my allergies more, too, so that no one gives me the side eye. i think if i did my usual allergic sneezing all day at work these days, they'd probably frog march me out while wearing hazmat suits.

I know. I really have to keep my allergies in check, which keeps my asthma in check. Can you imagine them allowing an ICU RN at the bedside coughing or wheezing? I am on enough asthma and allergy meds that I could snort 5 lines of pollen and hang out in the dusty attic and not even sniffle.:lamo

 

[Helix]

Yeah, my doc said Allegra or Benedryl and Flonase.

Long ago I had the nose/sinus thing done. Whatever they used reminded me of a long, long cylinder of cotton skewered by a knitting needle that had been dipped in something brown. They crammed one in each nostril. I felt like the needle things were going to come out the back of my head. Then they put me under a heat lamp and told me to relax. Oh, sure. It was not fun. I was ready to tell them secrets I didn't even know just to have them stop the torture.

The nose kabab worked. No problem after that. Now I'm probably allergic to dirt. Try living in Arizona and avoiding dirt and dust.

I have no doubt the procedure is much different now, Helix, so no worries.

those who have had it done generally say it's worth it, but it scares the **** out of me. maybe if i could be put under for two months. i also have a deviated septum, so the would be even more fun to fix. you can guess why i just use Afrin constantly.

actually, as tired as i am after this work marathon, being put under for two months sounds interesting if i can wake up refreshed with a nose that works correctly. of course, i'd miss out on seeing my kiddo grow and progress during that time, so no.