INFLUENZA: Distorted stats

In response to Jerry Forell’s letter.

He clearly believes influenza is somehow a bigger health threat this year than COVID-19. He may be sincere in trying to get data from the https://bit.ly/3ySGxpC website, but his belief is overpowering his attention to the facts.

According to https://bit.ly/3h4GmBn, “During Sept. 28, 2020-May 22, 2021, in the United States, 1,675 (0.2%) of 818,939 respiratory specimens tested by U.S. clinical laboratories were positive for an influenza virus.” A total of 646 deaths were attributed to the flu in all population groups.

Note the flu season peaks in winter, so probably there have not been many more cases since late May. In no way can there be anywhere near 449,000 deaths from influenza that Mr. Forell states. Nor can there even be the claimed 908 flu deaths in children.

Compared to previous years, influenza cases and deaths are way down, probably because of the preventative measures people are taking for the much more contagious COVID-19.

Likewise, 291,416 people have died from COVID-19 this year (as of Sept. 4, 2021), so there could not have been the stated 496,000 COVID deaths aged 65 and over this year.

JAMES FILLMORE

Coeur d’Alene