Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

A genuine question

42 replies

Redbrickwall · 26/01/2021 22:46

Where has flu gone? Statistics by WHO show it’s pretty much vanished

I just don’t understand it.

I am NOT a Covid denier - my parents have been poorly with it (not desperately ill but unwell).

How has a virus like flu disappeared? And if it’s because of the measures, why don’t they stop Covid? It doesn’t make sense to me at all.

I’ve caught several colds throughout lockdown (I’m still working), so viruses like colds and the flu still have opportunities to spread

Interested in answers

OP posts:
EatingAllTheCookies · 26/01/2021 22:52

My 15. Yr old asked me the same today.
And also said did I remember last January when his school shut for a week due to a flu outbreak! I only just remembered. He said he remembered as the 1st time he'd ever had his birthday off school haha

Bumpsadaisie · 26/01/2021 22:52

It is because of the measures.

The measures do also stop Covid (there would be many more cases and deaths with no measures!)

But the measures don't stop Covid completely- I guess as Covid is more transmissible than flu because it's new, very few have immunity, and it is contagious well before the sufferer gets symptoms?

Original poster
Redbrickwall · 26/01/2021 22:54

@EatingAllTheCookies

My 15. Yr old asked me the same today. And also said did I remember last January when his school shut for a week due to a flu outbreak! I only just remembered. He said he remembered as the 1st time he'd ever had his birthday off school haha
Oh wow really?! The school I teach in had a week off due to a vomiting bug a few years back. It was so awful, kids puking everywhere and staff!!! All dropped like flies
OP posts:
whenwillthemadnessend · 26/01/2021 22:57

I guess the masks social
Distancing and gels are keeping flu really low this year also there was record take up of the vaccine

Original poster
Redbrickwall · 26/01/2021 22:57

@Bumpsadaisie

It is because of the measures.

The measures do also stop Covid (there would be many more cases and deaths with no measures!)

But the measures don't stop Covid completely- I guess as Covid is more transmissible than flu because it's new, very few have immunity, and it is contagious well before the sufferer gets symptoms?

Yes that makes sense about it being more transmissible as it is new, but colds are still going round loads. My mum had a stinking cold a few weeks back and hasn’t left the house for ages. So odd!
OP posts:
Original poster
Redbrickwall · 26/01/2021 22:58

@whenwillthemadnessend
Did they ever give stats about how many took the flu jab compared to normal??

OP posts:
Whatelsecouldibecalled · 26/01/2021 22:58

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?

ExpulsoCorona · 26/01/2021 23:01

With flu most transmission happens when you've got symptoms, not much transmission just before you get symptoms.

With Covid you get quite a lot of transmission just before you get symptoms so it's easier to catch.

Megan2018 · 26/01/2021 23:01

Loads of flu vaccines have been given, my work paid for everyone to have one that doesn’t get it on NHS.
But the social distancing has helped hugely. That said, my DH had flu in 2020 (wasn’t Covid although we thought it was) and so did my Godmother so it is still out there!

Motorina · 26/01/2021 23:01

Social distancing and increased flu vaccine uptake are likely factors.

I reckon the big one, though, is a cultural shift. Pre-covid, my workplace expected us to drag ourselves in even if we were dying. That was the norm in lots of places. Now? Slightest tickle in the throat and you stay home and get a test. I bet that's made a huge difference to how readily the flu virus can spread through schools and offices.

Cookerhood · 26/01/2021 23:04

Flu vaccination uptake was high this year, plus social distancing etc.

Pootle40 · 26/01/2021 23:12

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?
^THIS
GreyBow · 26/01/2021 23:18

Flu can't be "going down" as Covid as it wouldn't test positive.

It's more vaccinations, increased social distancing, more hand washing, less socialisation and people staying away from work if they feel ill.

LetItGoGo · 26/01/2021 23:18

We are getting slight sniffles now even though we have very few outside contacts. We had nothing during the first lockdown. Then a couple of weeks after school started I got a terrible sneezing cold and wondered if it was that much worse because I hadn't been exposed to anything for ages.

Flu must not spread as easily as covid or the common cold viruses would be my interpretation.🤷

frasersmummy · 26/01/2021 23:21

Because flu and covid have very similar symptoms and people get tested for covid but not flu
If the test was for flu how many would be positive for that?

Also how do we know that the test is picking up an asymptomatic person whos symptoms are being caused by the flu.. Not covid.

I think when flu season is over you will see covid dropping fast

HazeyJaneII · 26/01/2021 23:21

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?
Horseshit
whatswithtodaytoday · 26/01/2021 23:22

Covid is much more transmissible than flu. So the measures we have are great at reducing flu to very low levels, but only just keep on top of Covid. Also less international travel means flu season didn't move from the southern hemisphere to the northern this year.

Colds are also very transmissible, so they are still around. Much less noro though.

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 26/01/2021 23:22

What @GreyBow said.
I don't think it's surprising at all.

BonnieDundee · 26/01/2021 23:24

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?

I wonder this as well

StacySoloman · 26/01/2021 23:25

Most of the people who are badly affected by flu are elderly and vulnerable - there was a big push on flu vaccines for vulnerable groups this year.
Many elderly and vulnerable people will have been shielding or particularly careful this winter.

50,000 people died in the Spring - mostly the kind of elderly and vulnerable people who would have been badly hit by flu.

Social distancing, masks, hand hygiene, working from home and school closures will have all lowered flu transmission too.

Wendyhause · 26/01/2021 23:26

What are the chances of the population still wearing masks and distancing long after Covid-19 has buggered off properly? If they still wear masks in public and in shops / trains etc. then the normal winter flu bug should produce greatly reduced infections each winter. I doubt free flu jabs will be offered to everyone not normally qualifying, long after covid has gone.

Madhairday · 26/01/2021 23:27

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?
Of course it's not. You can't test positive for Covid unless you have Covid, and the xrays are completely different for those ending up in hospital.

In fact, 20,119 people died of flu or pneumonia in 2020, according to the ONS. They do put the two together. It was a lower flu year, because it makes complete sense that social distancing, masks and the lack of contact with others cut the numbers down to the bone. Covid is so much more contagious and so that's why that isn't so successfully contained yet, especially this new variant.

Flu hasn't gone away, but it's definitely been controlled more than ever before as a side effect of covid measures.

Oh and yes the big uptake of the flu jab is going to help too.

Not rocket science.

Madhairday · 26/01/2021 23:29

@BonnieDundee

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?

I wonder this as well

Why would you wonder this though? Do you think healthcare professionals don't do their job correctly? Do you think covid tests wrongly diagnose covid when it's flu?

Because they don't.

Ask any scientist/virologist/sensible person

LizFlowers · 26/01/2021 23:33

The uptake of 'flu vaccines has increased. More people staying at home because of Covid so also less likely to catch the 'flu.

Northernsoullover · 26/01/2021 23:34

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Because flu is still happening but goin down as covid?
Its a completely different virus. Is it that difficult to understand why flu is down? Its not as transmissible as covid therefore social distancing and sanitary measures will help. Travelling on planes, public transport is way down. People working from home. People like my parents are staying at home. Yes colds are still going around I hear but I haven't had one in a year. Neither have my mum, dad, brother children, partner (he did have covid though which was diagnosed by finding SARS CoV2 up his hooter) So from my small sample I'd say colds are down too. We also have much less norovirus doing the rounds because of the measures. Food poisoning is down too. Covid spreads easily folks!