The Claim:
A tweeter claims that the 2020–2021 drop in the number of flu cases is a great mystery.
The Facts:
Far from being a mystery, this reduction in flu cases during the pandemic is easily explained.
Influenza is a respiratory disease, mainly spread via tiny droplets expelled when people speak, cough, and sneeze. COVID is also spread mainly via respiratory infection When people took protective measures like masking and distancing to prevent respiratory COVID infection, influenza infection was also decreased. In fact, the effects of protective measures on influenza infection were even more pronounced because influenza is much less contagious than COVID.
The good news is that we have vaccines that help protect against the risk of severe disease and death from both these diseases.
Disclaimer: Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved since this was originally posted. Browse the latest information posted in Just the Facts Topics.
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