GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — There’s some concern among area healthcare professionals that the flu will be back this year.
The flu was virtually eliminated in 2020, but experts fear its return this year at a time when we’re still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several local healthcare experts spoke during a press briefing on Tuesday.
“We’re starting to see the emergence of our seasonal cold and flu viruses,” said Bellin Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Cynthia Lasecki. “They share a lot of similarities in terms of symptoms [with COVID-19].”
That can lead to confusion. Dr. Sarah Lulloff is a Infectious Disease Physician and Medical Director of Infection Prevention for HSHS.
“We’ve had a tiny number of influenza infections popping up over the last few months, so we know that it’s been around and has the potential to be around,” she said.
Lulloff and other experts say wearing masks indoors can help mitigate not only COVID-19 transmission, but that of flus and colds as well. They’re also asking people to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and the flu–which can be done in one sitting.
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