Flu pandemic can be much more dangerous than COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 5 million lives worldwide ever since its origin in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory system still continues to mutate which poses a threat for another wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the near future. However, as per infectious disease experts, a global flu outbreak still continues to be a "serious and real" risk to human beings as compared to COVID-19.
Expert opinion on flu pandemic
According to Professor Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, a Global flu pandemic can be worse in the terms of severity and total death count. He further stated that it could kill about 33 million people in the first six months, which is about 6 times more than the total lives lost during the coronavirus pandemic. He added that prior to COVID-19, influenza was the number one biological risk to humans and this hasn't changed.
Why influenza pandemic is more dangerous
Both COVID-19 and influenza are diseases of the upper respiratory system that lead to symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, breathlessness and body ache. They can be caused by different viruses, but in severe cases, both can lead to pneumonia. Seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round, flu viruses are common during the fall and winter. Besides, there are several different kinds of flu virus that the much contagious and dangerous than the COVID-19 and can cause huge loss of life. While the flu virus has been around for a long time, coronavirus is still new and there is a lot to know about it. Studies are still underways to understand which out of the two respiratory infections are more infectious.
What the experts suggest
Influenza kills about 290,000 to 650,000 people per year. The majority of cases are from lower- and middle-income countries. The current vaccine available for preventing flu is based on technology first developed in the 1940s and is formulated every year depending on the changes in the RNA of the virus. The virus mutates every year and grows stronger due to geographical and climatic changes. Experts suggest there are still no vaccines available to prevent stronger strains of the influenza virus and for a longer time. Experts believe that in the case of the flu vaccine the ultimate goal should be not to administer it every year and that it could provide protection against several strains of the virus.
How to protect yourself
Both flu and COVID-19 are infections of the upper respiratory system that spreads from one person to the other through aerosol droplets released by an infected person while coughing, sneezing or talking. So, a few things that everyone needs to do to protect against both COVID and flu is maintaining proper hygeine, covering the mouth when sneezing and washing hands regularly. Secondly, get vaccinated for both COVID-19 and flu. In less than a months time we will officially enter the winter season when the cases of respiratory infection rises. So, it is best to get yourself vaccinated before that.
(With inputs from IANS)