BUFFALO (WBEN) - As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact society in numerous ways, concerns are heightened for this year's flu season, which usually starts to ramp up in October.
However, as people continue to wear masks and socially distance to guard against coronavirus, there's a hope that those measures will make for an easier flu season throughout the region.
"We know in the Southern Hemisphere, where they're wrapping up their influenza season because their seasons are opposite of ours in the Northern Hemisphere, when they've implemented their COVID-19 preventative measures, they saw a significant decrease in the number of influenza cases," said Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein. "We know that the same preventative measures we take for COVID-19 will also prevent influenza and many other respiratory infectious diseases."
In fact, according to a recent article published by The Guardian, countries such as South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are reporting record low numbers of flu cases. The article goes on to say that doctors in New Zealand have not found a single case of influenza since screening began in June.
Of course, Burstein is hopeful that a similar level of success can be had in Western New York as we inch closer to our own peak flu season.
"We're hoping that people will keep up the fight with, continue these preventative behaviors, and it will also pan out in preventing influenza cases," she said.
However, Burstein is still encouraging resident to get their annual flu shot.
"There is a very important influenza preventative measure that people can take to prevent influenza but can't take to prevent COVID-19, and that is the flu vaccine."
