AIBU to ask if you know anyone who has had flu this season?

[notanotherlockdownsurely]

So where's the flu this season?
I don't know a single person who's been off work with it, a single neighbour or friend.

@Sinead543

Or maybe it’s the fact that everything is going down as covid... maybe that positive covid test from your (example) sister who only had a head cold was actually just the flu... who knows... nobody will ever know

In my area there’s no such thing as social distancing, Asda, co op, everyone stands right behind you, so many people not wearing a mask

This just isn't true, sorry. When we test for covid, we are looking for covid specifically. Adjusting for a small amount of error that is present in any medical test (a false positive, which happen in all kinds of tests eg false positive pregnancy test), a covid test would only come back positive if there were covid particles present.

When looking at the virus microorganisms, coronaviruses look completely different to influenza viruses. With proper testing, influenza would never be diagnosed as coronavirus, and coronavirus would never be diagnosed as influenza.

Now they've got covid and it's vaccine to track us they don't need to push around the flu and annual flu jab any more. Old tech! Like when videos got replaced by DVD

Most people were very clean before Covid
Most have uppped their hygeine levels.

Some are still minging not understanding how imprtant clean hands are.

So all in all, there is less spread. Thank goodness.

@WhatAreYouDoingInMySwamp

Now they've got covid and it's vaccine to track us they don't need to push around the flu and annual flu jab any more. Old tech! Like when videos got replaced by DVD

Human society and rational thought has fallen so far I genuinely can't tell what's satire anymore!

I work in a school and can't social distance from the children, we all (staff and pupils) had the flu vaccine this year. No cases yet. Normally I do get the flu if I haven't had the jab so I'm lucky I got one this year. My old job didn't provide them.

Or maybe it’s the fact that everything is going down as covid... maybe that positive covid test from your (example) sister who only had a head cold was actually just the flu... who knows... nobody will ever know

What?? If someone has tested positive for covid, they have covid. A head cold is nothing like flu. Flu is a serious illness; it's definitely not "just a head cold"!!

@WhatAreYouDoingInMySwamp

Now they've got covid and it's vaccine to track us they don't need to push around the flu and annual flu jab any more. Old tech! Like when videos got replaced by DVD

I really, really hope you're joking 🥴🙄

@drward not according to the CDC or WHO
The PCR test detects viral fragments, previous infections, and non-related viral particles (such as the common cold). CDC statement that PCR may not indicate the presence of a Covid infection. On Dec 7th WHO published a report saying that PCR cycles above 35 give false positives.PCR cycle being used is 40.

@notanotherlockdownsurely

So where's the flu this season? I don't know a single person who's been off work with it, a single neighbour or friend.

I also don't know anyone who's had Covid, yet here we are

Here in the Southern Hemisphere there is very little Flu and the Flu season wasn’t a real thing this year
All that hand hygiene, children staying home. and not mixing during lockdown (children as a major Flu carrier and spreader), social distancing, masks, no one going to work sick, working from home, no international flights and not a lot of local travel and people getting the Flu jab early.

@Somemeht

Most people were very clean before Covid Most have uppped their hygeine levels.

Some are still minging not understanding how imprtant clean hands are.

So all in all, there is less spread. Thank goodness.

From my experiments😂 understand, waiting in toilets for my slow peeing mate, I disagree that most people were very clean before. Most people did not was their hands at toilets or did that 5 second water splatter thing. I carried hand gel well before corona for these reasons

There's also been a much greater uptake in the seasonal flu vaccine. I usually pop down to the chemist and get it but this year they've been completely sold out and only those with greater need can get one (which is obviously a sensible policy).

From my experiments😂 understand, waiting in toilets for my slow peeing mate, I disagree that most people were very clean before. Most people did not was their hands at toilets

I'd agree with this. Before we were all shut in, I traveled a lot for work and used motorway services. The people not washing their hands after a pee or a dump were in the majority.

The people not washing their hands after a pee or a dump were in the majority
I'd agree prior to lockdown when working lots of staff men would use the office toilet when handing in service dockets to the tiny office with loo off side.
One washed his hands the others never did. puke.

@Emeraldshamrock

The people not washing their hands after a pee or a dump were in the majority I'd agree prior to lockdown when working lots of staff men would use the office toilet when handing in service dockets to the tiny office with loo off side. One washed his hands the others never did. puke.

Grim isn't it.

We know one person who has had it and it's the only person we know who isn't following guidelines at all.

PILs usually have a different cold or flu continuously from about October to March. This is because they have zero sense of hygiene. They then pass this on to us because zero hygiene, primarily, not covering mouths when coughing, no matter how close.

They have barely been out, and when they have they've worn masks and visors and gloves.

We spent Christmas with them and it was constant avoiding coughs and handing out sanitizer, I would have been very concerned if we hadn't known they'd isolated for 2 weeks prior to Christmas. They cough alot because of lung issues.

We will have a job on our hands getting them ready for going back to normal because people are going to be far less tolerant of them coughing in peoples faces or coughing into their hands and immediately passing them money.

[quote Nousernamesleftatall]@drward not according to the CDC or WHO
The PCR test detects viral fragments, previous infections, and non-related viral particles (such as the common cold). CDC statement that PCR may not indicate the presence of a Covid infection. On Dec 7th WHO published a report saying that PCR cycles above 35 give false positives.PCR cycle being used is 40.[/quote]
When I looked at PCR results its always said SARS COv 2 detected? Not random fragments of other viruses. Also when I spoke to the recipients of such results there were barely any asymptomatic. Most felt pretty shite. So 'feeling pretty shite' + SARS COv 2 detected' seems like they likely had covid.

Social distancing doubtless helps with flu transmission. Thank goodness flu numbers are down as hospitals wouldn't be able to cope with usual flu numbers plus Covid.

I had flu once in my 20s. Didn't need any medical treatment but I have never felt so ill. I couldn't get out of bed for a week. I can quite see why it is serious in older and vulnerable patients.

I appreciate that people are wearing masks, but isn't flu quite infectious?
So many people should at least get it.

But tonnes are getting the new strain of Corona?

Yeah. Right. Doesn't add up to me.

I think I read that flu was ninety percent down this year. It’s clearly not had a chance to spread due to the Covid measures. It has helped the nhs because if they had the normal influence spike and Covid they would have been over run more quickly.

Both Mr. Noodle and I had the flu (both tested negative for COVID) - we're still not fully better 2 weeks on.

My son-in-law and my youngest DD (23) both Covid tested, both negative. I know of people who've been off with flu in my middle DD's work. So essential workers are still getting flu. We're in the NW.

Covid hygiene, lack of mixing and a good uptake of the flu jab have helped. My DD wasn't well enough to get hers and my SIL doesn't bother (but will from now on).

Our flu season in the care homes was January onwards, that's when Staff would get it also. I'm sick of it being said that we haven't had a flu season. A lot of people get infected over Christmas and NY, mainly in pubs, then take it to work.

@rosy71, some people can shake off the flu and it can be just like a heavy cold for a couple of days.

@Northernsoullover

It makes me want to scream when I see this. Its already been spelled out to you but I'll indulge you further: People vulnerable to flu are cautious about covid. For example my elderly parents would typically be on planes, trains and buses. They are at home. Social distancing is in place. People aren't travelling. Flu is less contagious than covid. People are wearing face coverings. Flu jab uptake has increased. Got it yet?

You need to calm TF down. Overreaction to a reasonable question.

Truthfully, I have never known anybody that has had flu ever, I am 50. I have met some people that have had bad colds which they have called flu but were well enough to go to work or shopping.

I am not denying the existence of flu of course, only that I have never known anyone have it anyway so this year is no different from my perspective.

But speaking more generally, it would seem common sense that flu cases would be down. People are mixing less, wearing masks, sanitising hands etc..

fullfact.org/health/coronavirus-pcr-test-accuracy/
The common cold / flu is not picked up on the pcr test