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Did we even test for the flu? Or did we just presume that flu cases were COIVD because the symptoms are so similar? The idea that the flu just 'disappeared' de

Did we even test for the flu? Or did we just presume that flu cases were COIVD because the symptoms are so similar? The idea that the flu just 'disappeared' despite world trade continuing just sets off my bullshit detectors. Between all the countries that did little or nothing initially, and the people who refused to wear masks and didn't lock down...there's just no way it dropped to zero. Less? Sure. But gone? I simply don't believe it.

jhayward 6y ago
Yes, everyone with ILI symptoms (influenza-like-illness) who goes to one of the clinics or hospitals participating in the surveillance program gets tested for about 30 pathogens. That's how we know what's going on with all those critters. None of that has changed in the era of COVID, although the pattern of who goes to clinic for what may have. If there were flu out there we'd be detecting it is the bottom line.
collyw 6y ago
Around Autumn it was subtly mentioned that the UK figures were going to be for flu and covid combined. Before that it was noted that flu was killing more than coronavirus in summer.
- jimsmart 6y ago
  Do you have any links to substantiate those claims, please?
  - jrek 6y ago
    You have to understand - it was REAL subtle.
    - jimsmart 5y ago
      You have to understand: your claims are nonsense without evidence.
Uberphallus 6y ago
The WHO has the FluNET program and they constantly test a fixed set of people with respiratory symptoms for flu, all around the world. FluNET is precisely why we know flu dropped so much, and hence the large chunk of people with respiratory symptoms have been COVID-19 or otherwise, but certainly not flu.
- NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
  Thanks for sharing. That's why I was asking. Also, username-bro.
telchar 6y ago
Yes. They didn't just stop testing for flu when someone shows up with influenza-like illness (i.e. flu, covid). Maybe in some places where medical systems were already struggling in normal times, but not in developed nations certainly.
- lurquer 6y ago
  Most flu patients don’t get tested for flu. Indeed, most flu patients don’t even see a doctor. So, at the outset, the flu stats are coming from a very specific category of patients: in-patients and people with great insurance who have the time and money to get tested for the flu (even though it won’t make a bit of difference what the test says as it’ll be over in a couple weeks anyway.) This second-category may be skewing things. The personality-type that has a ‘need’ to know whether they have the flu was instead focused on Covid. They’d have the sniffles, go through a drive-through Covid testing site, get their negative result and breathe a sigh of relief. They would NOT however make an appointment with their doctor as they perhaps would have in years past as (a) they wanted to avoid sources of Covid, and (b) the doctors were discouraging appointments but for emergencies (and flu-like symptoms plus a negative Covid test, would not, in the patient’s mind, amount to an emergency.) I doubt this explains all of the decrease in flu-positive tests. But, perhaps some of it.
Fomite 6y ago
It didn't drop to zero. "Gone" is hyperbole - it was an extremely light flu season, but it wasn't zero or anything like that. And yes, we test for influenza a lot.

jhayward 6y ago

Yes, everyone with ILI symptoms (influenza-like-illness) who goes to one of the clinics or hospitals participating in the surveillance program gets tested for about 30 pathogens. That's how we know what's going on with all those critters. None of that has changed in the era of COVID, although the pattern of who goes to clinic for what may have. If there were flu out there we'd be detecting it is the bottom line.

collyw 6y ago

Around Autumn it was subtly mentioned that the UK figures were going to be for flu and covid combined. Before that it was noted that flu was killing more than coronavirus in summer.

jimsmart 6y ago
Do you have any links to substantiate those claims, please?
- jrek 6y ago
  You have to understand - it was REAL subtle.
  - jimsmart 5y ago
    You have to understand: your claims are nonsense without evidence.

Uberphallus 6y ago

The WHO has the FluNET program and they constantly test a fixed set of people with respiratory symptoms for flu, all around the world. FluNET is precisely why we know flu dropped so much, and hence the large chunk of people with respiratory symptoms have been COVID-19 or otherwise, but certainly not flu.

NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
Thanks for sharing. That's why I was asking. Also, username-bro.

telchar 6y ago

Yes. They didn't just stop testing for flu when someone shows up with influenza-like illness (i.e. flu, covid). Maybe in some places where medical systems were already struggling in normal times, but not in developed nations certainly.

lurquer 6y ago
Most flu patients don’t get tested for flu. Indeed, most flu patients don’t even see a doctor. So, at the outset, the flu stats are coming from a very specific category of patients: in-patients and people with great insurance who have the time and money to get tested for the flu (even though it won’t make a bit of difference what the test says as it’ll be over in a couple weeks anyway.) This second-category may be skewing things. The personality-type that has a ‘need’ to know whether they have the flu was instead focused on Covid. They’d have the sniffles, go through a drive-through Covid testing site, get their negative result and breathe a sigh of relief. They would NOT however make an appointment with their doctor as they perhaps would have in years past as (a) they wanted to avoid sources of Covid, and (b) the doctors were discouraging appointments but for emergencies (and flu-like symptoms plus a negative Covid test, would not, in the patient’s mind, amount to an emergency.) I doubt this explains all of the decrease in flu-positive tests. But, perhaps some of it.

Fomite 6y ago

It didn't drop to zero. "Gone" is hyperbole - it was an extremely light flu season, but it wasn't zero or anything like that. And yes, we test for influenza a lot.