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Original poster

Colds and flu disappeared?

57 replies

Floralapron · 31/01/2021 10:01

Read an article this morning saying that colds and the flu have virtually disappeared this year.

Can someone explain to me in simple layman’s terms, why the flu and colds seem to have basically disappeared, but covid is still rife. Surely if the hygiene and distancing rules are working against other viral illness, they should be working against covid too? I’m really confused!

OP posts:
Distiller91 · 31/01/2021 12:22

I keep hearing this and here's me and my 3 year old on our 3rd nasty cold since September. Tested for all (in Liverpool so can just walk in test) and all negative to my surprise/relief

Unsure33 · 31/01/2021 12:27

Because in general hygiene control has been better ? Covid is more transmissible so even the current hand washing and mask wearing is not enough , but is enough to help prevent colds and flu?

RosesAndLemonade · 31/01/2021 12:29

Plenty of colds this year for me, DH, kids and my students ! Definately not disappeared!

WalkingOnStarshine · 31/01/2021 12:32

I would have agreed but I've woken up with a horrendous cold today, I had to dig out the lemsip!

UntamedWisteria · 31/01/2021 12:44

yup.

I went to London in early March shortly before first lockdown, and despite assiduously handwashing etc managed to catch a cold. Haven't been to any cities since then and have been following the rules and haven't caught anything since.

And I'm usually prone to colds. I'm sure it's a combination of all reasons, but the most likely is avoiding crowds and social distancing.

lightand · 31/01/2021 12:48

I used to use handheld anti bac in the car, for after I had done shopping, even before covid. It cut down on my number of colds.
Using it was frowned upon somewhat by some, back then.

Funny how things change!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/01/2021 12:53

I had a cold in September and my boss had one a couple of weeks ago! It was definitely a cold and not Covid as she got tested.

Tanith · 31/01/2021 12:54

This is the first year since I can remember that I haven't spent Christmas ill with some bug or other that I caught from the children I look after.
Definitely there are fewer illnesses going round and I think it's because, at long last, people are rejecting the "dose up and carry on" culture that crept in during the 80s.
We pleaded with people to think of the immune-compromised and the vulnerable. Now we have an illness that affects everyone, people are finally taking notice.

redsquirrelfan · 31/01/2021 12:55

@lightand

I used to use handheld anti bac in the car, for after I had done shopping, even before covid. It cut down on my number of colds. Using it was frowned upon somewhat by some, back then.

Funny how things change!

Some of us frown on it now, as covid (and flu and cold and norovirus) are all viruses, so soap and water is enough. That said, it's useful to have in the car in case you can't wash your hands, and some public loos are awful and have no hot water and/or soap.
spiralshell · 31/01/2021 12:58

I currently have a cold. We have only been out for daily walks, and have been nowhere near anyone else during those (all shopping has been delivered since March and we haven’t seen family or friends since then either)!

wonderstuff · 31/01/2021 13:00

Hand washing will significantly reduce colds, I'd imagine masks and distancing will too. Covid is transmitted through aerosol spread whereas most colds and flu through hard surface contact. I started rigorous handwashing a few years ago and being mindful about touching my face and I significantly reduced the number of colds I got.

I'd imagine we will keep some of the measures that suppress cold and flu spread and permanently reduce it going forward.

Witchend · 31/01/2021 13:06

Ds, who is normally ill December through to March (as in sick, temperatures etc) has not been ill this year at all.
His school was closed early part of December too.

DH who normally has a fluey cold 1-2 over a year, and is working from home has not been ill at all.

DD2 who gets regular migraines has also not had them more than occasionally since March. Not sure if that is stress related or when she gets minor viruses they cause migraine in her.

DD1 is always healthy. Grin

Hibernatingnation · 31/01/2021 13:06

How are they getting that data though? People with colds won't be going to the doctor, nor those with flu unless they're really unwell. Our household and almost everyone I know has had the usual winter colds this year but none of us have sought medical care so back to how do they know how many people have colds and flu?
I also think all those testing positive with cold symptoms are asymptomatic covid carriers who happen to have the cold, after all cold symptoms with covid were pretty rare until the winter, never heard anyone back in April or say June test positive for covid with cold symptoms.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 31/01/2021 13:14

Norovirus has collapsed in transmission.

Flu is still showing up in hospital statistics but at a much lower rate because of reduced transmission. Plus, the extension of the flu jab to younger age groups has played a role here.

SpnBaby1967 · 31/01/2021 14:54

All my kids have had colds, and I had a horrible cold back in September which was way worse than the covid I got at the end of december.

StillGoingToWork · 31/01/2021 15:01

I haven't had proper flu for many years but average around 4 colds every winter. I think I've had two colds "of note". No coughing, no raised temperature, just snotty. I put it down to working mostly in the control room (not out facing the public) wearing a mask, being more hygiene aware and staying home when not at work.

SpaceRaiders · 31/01/2021 15:18

I normally pick up every single bug that dc bring home from school. Glad to say not a single sniffle or illness between us since December 2019!

Timbucktime · 31/01/2021 15:20

Lot’s of people were saying that their children caught colds last September when they returned to school. Many said Their natural immune system was likely fairly low having not been around others for so long.

Macey78 · 31/01/2021 15:20

2 adults and 2 primary aged children in our house and we always always have horrid colds, coughs endless runny noses. This year none!!

Slub · 31/01/2021 15:59

Free flu jabs for all over 50's but my DH currently has a stonking cold and I'm hoping I don't get it.

AllWashedOut · 31/01/2021 16:06

Because kids are the main incubators of colds and flu...but not covid.

LegoLegs · 31/01/2021 16:10

The article I read said flu, not colds and flu. They're different.

Northernsoullover · 31/01/2021 16:17

I haven't had a cold since September 2019. My son did (negative covid test). My mum and dad haven't either. They were always on coach trips, planes and the underground. We really were careless with our health. When I had my cold I went into university because I didn't want to miss the first week. I was really poorly too. No voice. I look back at that time and can't believe I didn't care about my fellow students and they didn't seem to care that I graced them with my germs. Thinking back we all used to go in with colds. It was only in February that we started giving people with cold symptoms the side eye!

ZoBo123 · 31/01/2021 16:28

A simple way to work out if there are still colds about is to calculate the number of positive COVID tests from the number of symptomatic tests taken. They will have all been ill with something else

Northernsoullover · 31/01/2021 17:18

@ZoBo123

A simple way to work out if there are still colds about is to calculate the number of positive COVID tests from the number of symptomatic tests taken. They will have all been ill with something else
Not necessarily. I know numerous people who have tested with no symptoms. Add in health workers who have the weekly screening. Its not a simple subtraction.