Puzzled by the absence of the flu
Apart from a few weeks around Christmas masks have never been mandatory in the state of New South Wales. Before the mandate was imposed maybe 5% wore masks, when it was in place there was a high degree of compliance, and since it was lifted maybe 10% wear them.
Influenza A and B infections fell through the floor exactly a year ago, and they've remained there ever since. Yet I've lost count of the number of times I have heard and read o'seas reports (BBC, NPR, DW, NYT, Faz etc) from 'experts' making the claim that the reduction in the incidence of influenza is primarily due to the wearing of masks.
So why have the influenza viruses been suppressed to equally low (maybe even lower) levels in a jurisdiction where masks have not been widely worn?
Countries that have been using masks for decades are experiencing second, third and fourth waves of coronavirus infections - e.g. Japan and South Korea. Yet Japan has also had a sharp drop off in flu over the past 12 months, not sure about S. Korea.
My theory is that its not masks that have stopped the flu, it is the collapse of international travel. Australia introduced its 'draconian' (we can't leave, you can't arrive) at the end of March 2020, since then 'all' arrivals are detained under lock and key for fourteen days - bingo, no flu since mid April 2020.
BR
Last edited by BetterRed; 04-21-2021 at 05:09 AM.
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