SA flu numbers fall to record low thanks to COVID-safe practices
COVID-safe practices from social distancing and increased hygiene, as well as a push for vaccination, has seen flu numbers fall to a record low and a dramatic fall in deaths.
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Influenza notifications and deaths have dropped to record lows in one of the few silver linings from the pandemic, with 137 cases admitted to metropolitan public hospitals compared to 2260 at the same time in 2019.
There have been three deaths blamed on the flu so far this year compared to 103 at the same time last year.
COVID-safe measures such as social distancing, increased hygiene from hand washing to cough etiquette, working from home, staying home if feeling ill as well as the push for flu vaccinations are being cited as reasons for the dramatic plunge in cases.
However, authorities also caution that no flu seasons are the same and it is not possible to predict the severity of a season.
As of September 26 there had been 1556 cases of flu notified to SA Health’s Communicable Disease Control Branch, compared to 24,956 at the same time last year, 2830 in 2018 and 22,214 in 2017.
COVID-19 has claimed four lives from 468 cases in SA and triggered an overhaul of casual social contact.
A SA Health spokesman said the figures reflect improved hygiene and less travel in and out of SA since the pandemic began.
“We have not seen numbers this low and for such a prolonged period of time since influenza became a notifiable condition in 2008,” he said.
“Looking back at previous years, it’s clear that no flu seasons are the same. The severity of the flu season is impossible to predict which is why getting a flu shot every year remains the most effective way of preventing the spread of influenza.
“We encourage everyone to practice good hand hygiene, wipe down frequently used surfaces and to stay home if they are sick.”
Nationally there have been 21,156 notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza and 36 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths notified to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
The federal Department of Health says that due to the pandemic, data reported from various influenza surveillance systems may not represent an accurate reflection of influenza activity.
“Results should be interpreted with caution, especially where comparisons are made to previous influenza seasons,” it states.
“Interpretation of 2020 influenza activity data should take into account, but are not limited to, the impact of social distancing measures, likely changes in health-seeking behaviour of the community, including access to alternative streams of acute respiratory infection specific health services, and focused testing for COVID-19 response activities.”
It says COVID-19-related public health measures and the community’s adherence to public health messages are also likely having an effect on transmission of acute respiratory infections, including influenza.