SWEETWATER COUNTY — At what is typically considered the peak of flu season, there appears to be little to no sign of it locally in Sweetwater County, and it seems that is the case nationally.
As the spread of COVID-19 remains a concern, many have been wondering where the influenza (flu) has been. On many coronavirus-related social media posts you might see the same comments, “what about the flu?”
Mask wearing, social distancing, public health orders and an overall conscious effort be cleaner and safer are actions that could be attributed to what has been a rather mild flu season, say medical professionals and other officials.
According to Kim Deti, Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) Public Information Officer, precautions taken since the start of the pandemic are “likely a factor behind lower flu activity.”
The WDH is still monitoring influenza throughout the state. Deti added that the volume of influenza in Wyoming is “extremely low at this point compared to previous seasons” and that numbers could be as low as 10 percent of what they might otherwise be for early January.
“We are receiving sporadic reports of both Influenza A and Influenza B strains,” Deti said, confirming that the flu is still there, just in much lower numbers.
One way the WDH is keeping an eye on the flu is through testing. Tests run at the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory to determine whether someone is positive for COVID-19 are also testing for influenza at the same time.
Insight From a Pharmacist
Local pharmacist Greg Reasch, who works at Smith’s Food and Drug in Green River, shared some insight from his perspective.
This year, Reasch said he believes it’s been a record year for flu shots from what he’s witnessed at his location. COVID-19 is likely the driving force behind more people coming in and getting a shot, as more people have been aware of their health.
Reasch added that many people delayed getting their flu shot this season for some unknown reason. He explained that typically flu shots are given in higher numbers in the fall and then taper down around this time of the year in January, but there are still people coming in to get their flu shots quite consistently.
“Usually you’ll see an influx between October and December and people are revving up their flu and wanting to get their shot, but we are still seeing people coming in for their flu shot,” Reasch said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a year where more people have decided to come in for flu shots.”
Another interesting observation from Reasch, the pharmacy has not dispensed a single prescription for Tamiflu — the antiviral drug that is most commonly used to treat and prevent influenza.
“By now, we usually have lots and lots of prescriptions for Tamiflu. I can’t remember dispensing any of that this year,” Reasch said about the 2020-2021 flu season.
Reasch agreed that he also believes the practices of social distancing and small gatherings from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a significant decrease in the flu.
At any time the flu could spread rapidly, but it appears that with the current trends in public health, the flu has had a tough time making its way around the community.
Where’s the Data?
Even while writing this article, one could say the lack of data could be a leading contributor to the questions and even conspiracy surrounding the flu as it relates to COVID-19. In Wyoming, the last influenza season summary report from the Wyoming Department of Health is from 2018-2019 and there is zero flu data after May 2020 to be found on their website.
In the last report posted to the WDH website, it shows 66 deaths from pneumonia and flu-like illness for all of Wyoming in the 2019-2020 season. The summary from 2018-2019 shows that Sweetwater County reported 958 cases of influenza during that season, now two years ago.
In comparison, as of today there are 522 reported deaths from COVID-19 in Wyoming and in Sweetwater County, there has been 3,098 confirmed cases.
There is no question that COVID-19 is not only deadly and highly-contagious, but the question still remains: where is the flu?
