With the surge of new COVID-19 cases, the return of influenza is increasing concerns of a twindemic. Here’s all you need to know about the situation.
What is a twindemic?
Last year, it was believed that COVID-19 temporarily eradicated flu or the influenza virus. Over 650,000 people lose their lives due to the flu every year. But, when the flu virus began circulating in Europe at a ‘higher than expected rate’, the notion changed. However, the rise of flu amidst a COVID-19 surge is raising concerns about a twindemic situation.
Twindemic is a situation referring to the possibility of a severe flu season along with a rise in cases from coronavirus. One of its consequences includes a mixture of the two infections at the same time, in the same person. Several European nations are believed to be facing the situation or to do so soon.
What is the flu situation in Europe?
As per data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the number of flu patients in intensive care units surged with at least 43 cases in the last week of 2021. “If we start to lift all measures, the big concern I have for influenza is that, because we have had such a long time of almost no circulation in the European population, maybe we will shift away from normal seasonal patterns,” stated Pasi Penttinen. Penttinen is the top expert on influenza at ECDC. Similar trends are seen in data published by the French health ministry. According to it, three regions in France are suffering from an influenza epidemic. The nation culled about 650,00 poultry animals for containing it.
The surge in influenza cases comes as Europe is battling the pressure from the omicron variant of COVID-19. According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) statement, over half the people in the continent are at the risk of contracting the new variant. (Alprazolam) “At this rate, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasts that more than 50 percent of the population in the region will be infected with Omicron in the next six to eight weeks,” said Hans Kluge. Kluge is the regional director for the European office of the WHO.
