The masks are saving Italians from the seasonal flu.
That wearing this personal protective equipment both outdoors and indoors and in the presence of other people could be useful not only to stem the Coronavirus but also other airborne diseases was abundantly understandable, but now it is also the facts that say it.
Yes, because the curve, or rather the almost flat line, relative to the "incidence of" flu, this year is clear: in our country the "flu has not been seen, at least until today, and for how things are going everything suggests that there will be no visit even in the coming weeks.
An unusual scenario, which has not occurred for some time, given that to find another period without influenza in Italy one has to go back to the winter of 2005-2006.
The merit would be mainly of the masks, which are worn regularly as a barrier to the virus.
Masks that unfortunately cannot be used for sports, another very useful way to keep seasonal ailments away. In France, however, sports masks are ready.
Also in France, in addition to wearing masks, it is advisable not to talk to other passengers or on the phone in the subways.
epidemic. Last season in this same week, the "activity of influenza viruses was in slight decline due to the closure of schools and the incidence level was equal to 4.9 cases per thousand assisted against 1.4 this season".Among the dramatic and not very reassuring news due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this one relating to the seasonal flu is certainly a more than positive note, which however comes not surprisingly. It is in fact an event that is anything but unexpected, which also occurred in many other countries of the world, such as Australia, where, with the pandemic in full swing, the flu has disappeared, as in us.
there is a much more stringent type of surveillance, given the severity of the disease, much more feared and dangerous.
In addition, the monitoring of influenza takes place through family doctors, who send the data of their patients but currently, due to the ongoing health emergency, this activity has been reduced or has been subordinated to other types of emergencies.
flu-like, compared to the entire Italian population, were about 85,000, for a total of about 1,313,000 since the start of surveillance. Last year in this same period it was just under 2 million.
In all Italian regions the number of cases are below the basal threshold. According to the ISS report, influenza viruses would affect children between 0 and 4 years more. In this age group, in fact, the incidence is equal to 2.91 cases per thousand assisted, while from 5 to 14 years at 0.98. Between the ages of 15 and 64, the incidence rises to 1.36, while among people over 65, it drops to 1.10 cases per thousand assisted.
How much has the flu vaccination affected
It should not be forgotten, however, that another tool has also affected these numbers: the anti-flu vaccination. Probably due to the "apprehension about Covid-19, the campaign in Italy this year" was particularly effective and saw many more doses administered than in previous years, especially for over 60s and those suffering from chronic diseases, and this has certainly helped the flu curve to remain low.
The conditions for overcoming the winter very well, as far as the flu is concerned, therefore seem to be there, even if the confirmation will only take place in a couple of weeks, when the seasonal peak is expected, which normally is reached between January and February.
