Global circulation of influenza viruses, 2018-2021 (WHO FluNet) Posted on 03/24/2021 5:05:27 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Global circulation of influenza viruses, 2018-2021 (WHO FluNet)
Why has the flu disappeared since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic?
In 2020, after the global coronavirus pandemic began, influenza viruses mysteriously disappeared from global circulation (see WHO FluNet chart above). Some skeptics suspected that influenza was simply reclassified as covid, while many journalists and ‘fact checkers’ claimed influenza was suppressed by face masks and lockdowns.
But influenza has not been reclassified as covid, and influenza viruses have disappeared even in countries without face masks and lockdowns (e.g. Sweden), while they did not disappear during previous flu epidemics and pandemics, despite face masks, school closures, and other measures.
For instance, Japan, despite its widespread use of face masks, experienced a strong influenza epidemic in early 2019, just one year before the coronavirus pandemic began. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that face masks simply aren’t effective against influenza transmission.
Instead, influenza viruses have been displaced by the more infectious novel coronavirus. This displacement effect is well known from previous influenza pandemics: the 1918 flu virus was displaced by the 1957 flu virus, which in turn was displaced by the 1968 flu virus (see chart).
The 2009 swine flu virus temporarily displaced previous flu viruses, but eventually couldn’t assert itself (see chart). And even during the current coronavirus pandemic, more transmissible virus strains have repeatedly displaced previous coronavirus strains, often within weeks, despite lockdowns.
The last coronavirus pandemic is thought to have occurred in the 1890s (“Russian flu”), which is why a coronavirus displacing influenza viruses was not seen for more than a century. It is well known, however, that influenza vaccinations do not reduce the overall incidence of influenza-like illnesses, as influenza viruses simply get replaced by other respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses.
But why do countries with little or no covid – most of them are islands – also have no influenza? Because they closed their borders early. If the coronavirus doesn’t get in, influenza viruses – which normally oscillate between the northern and southern hemispheres – won’t get in, either.
An interesting and open question is whether the novel coronavirus might permanently suppress some or all of the existing influenza virus strains. This might, at last, be a positive development.
Temporal patterns of seasonal respiratory viral infections in Glasgow (UK). Red: rhinoviruses, orange and yellow: influenza viruses; light green: coronaviruses.
Temporal patterns of viral respiratory infections (Nickbaksh et al, 2019)
Timeline of pandemic influenza viruses (Nickol, 2019) Does this mean that the whole schtick of “Get your flu shot every year!” will also become unnecessary?
Indeed, numerous studies have shown that face masks simply aren’t effective against influenza transmission.
But they are effective against CCP-19?
GTFOH
There’s been little or no flu in my area since March of last year, as in no flu. No one that I know of has had it. No one that my acquaintances and family members know of has had it. I see hundreds of people most days and haven’t seen any coughing or sneezing for a long time.
It’s because every damned death in the world is ascribed to the Almighty Covid, no matter what the cause of death actually was.
The Branch Covidian Cult says so. We must abide...
I suspect that cancer deaths have gone way down. There probably has even been a decline in deaths as a result of motor cycle accidents.
Yep!
The Branch Covidian Cult is a creation of the Goebbels acolytes who control all public media...
When the Japanese created the world's first Thought Police centuries ago, little did they know that it would become a world-dominant concept and mainstay of every tyrannical government since...
Yep!
The Branch Covidian Cult is a creation of the Goebbels acolytes who control all public media...
When the Japanese created the world's first Thought Police centuries ago, little did they know that it would become a world-dominant concept and mainstay of every tyrannical government since...
Oddly, the same measures that protect against respiratory coronaviruses are also effective against respiratory influenza viruses.
Who would have thunk?
bump
Covidiots.
Heh! :-)
And don’t forget heart attacks, gunshots, car wrecks, brain aneurysms, falling out of trees, drownings, etc. All gone bye-bye because of Holy Covid.
You forgot to mention Covid vaccine deaths.
They do not exist because the folks died from Covid!
Right you are! I am properly ashamed. :-)
Interesting! Who’d a thunk the Flu would also disappear in areas that never followed the Goebbels mask mandates or the 6 ft saves lives ruse
Simple. Covid devoured the flu virus. All to create new variations. It’s alive and aware! And it’s coming for you.
Now where’s that manning the lifeboats BS meter?
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