Is a 'twindemic' of flu and COVID-19 about to hit the U.S.?
Experts warn that the U.S. is ripe for a severe influenza outbreak in the coming months, making vaccination against both diseases more important than ever.
As cooler autumn days arrive in the U.S., experts are once again warning that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is about to collide with cold and flu season. And this year, the flu season may be worse than average in part because last year’s was shockingly mild.
Experts believe that a combination of social distancing, wearing masks, travel restrictions, hand washing, remote work, and shuttered schools played key roles in dramatically reducing the number of flu cases during the 2020-21 season. Last year there were only a little over 2,000 lab-confirmed cases in the U.S., compared to the 200,000 that occur during a typical flu season. Flu-related hospitalizations in 2020-21 were also the lowest ever recorded.
One influenza strain
