The state along with the rest of the country is reportedly experiencing a low amount of flu cases this season. State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch believes COVID mitigation measures along with more people choosing to be vaccinated for the flu are responsible.
“People really didn’t want both the flu and coronavirus and we saw probably a little bit of an uptick in people getting flu vaccines this year. I think those things together have kept our flu rates very, very low,” said Welch.
The low outbreak of flu this year, Welch said is reflective of the southern hemisphere who also had low cases of the flu during their winter.
Welch said in order to have widespread disease you have to have lots of people with it. COVID is already established in the state and Welch credits those who have practiced mitigation measures properly from curbing the spread of the flu.
“But with a disease like the flu, we were already doing those things before the flu got here. And so, doing those things at the time flu got here it really hasn’t allowed it to take hold,” said Welch.
The annual message to help prevent the flu is vaccines and mitigation measures. Welch said since the pandemic it seems more people received the message and it’s helped curb flu outbreaks; he hopes people will continue to practice safe hygiene in the future.
“Stay home if you’re sick, wash your hands, cover your cough, things like that… we’re now finding, especially for flu, those really do work. And I hope that does translate over,” said Welch.
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