The flu has ‘virtually disappeared’ as reports of the disease are the lowest ‘in decades’

A new report from AP says that the classic flu has basically vanished in the United States. By that they mean the reports of the disease are the lowest “in decades.” The reasoning behind this, experts claim, is the strict measures enacted to combat the Coronavirus.

The AP piece floated another theory: “The coronavirus has essentially muscled aside flu and other bugs that are more common in the fall and winter. Scientists don’t fully understand the mechanism behind that, but it would be consistent with patterns seen when certain flu strains predominate over others, said Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert at the University of Michigan.”

Regardless of the explanation, CDC experts are claiming we’re seeing the lowest flu season ever on record, currently. Medical professionals are certainly relieved since usually the flu accounts for “600,000 to 800,000 annual hospitalizations and 50,000 to 60,000 deaths.”

A record number of flu vaccines have been distributed so far this year, which might play a role. However the CDC doesn’t have a grasp of how well the vaccine did to begin with, given the record low number of infections on tally.

It’s not just in the United States. Internationally in places like China and Europe these results are consistent. These findings are backed up by the World Health Organization. They see the same record low Flu results reported throughout various countries.

The story is of course vastly different when considering the Coronavirus. As vaccines continue to roll out there’s debates over prioritization and potential variants, as well as how to factor this in to reopening the global economy.