While we all are hopeful because of some positive signs regarding COVID-19, we know that the situation easily could worsen as schools and businesses reopen. The pandemic’s effect has changed how EMS is performed now and possibly for years to come. However, flu season is just around the corner. Although it will be overshadowed by COVID, we can’t forget that the flu affects hundreds of thousands of people and even kills tens of thousands each year. So, what will happen when this pandemic and flu season clash? Unsurprisingly, no one really knows.
The southern hemisphere is in the midst of its flu season. It is seeing dramatically fewer than usual flu cases so far. The hypothesis: Precautions that people are taking for COVID are preventing the normal spread of the seasonal influenza. Hopefully, this will be true for the United States as well. That said, the southern hemisphere’s flu season started during the height of the pandemic; the U.S. flu season begins as we reopen and when fewer quarantine restrictions will be in place.
The potential of the flu season was driven home recently when a patient who everyone seemed sure had COVID tested negative for COVID but positive for Type A flu—and it isn’t even flu season yet. Even more disturbing are research findings that individuals in China tested positive for both COVID and seasonal flu, coinfections. Granted, it is a very small percentage, but it proves that it can occur.
COVID often is compared to the flu or referred to as a flu. This might make some wonder why there even is a need to differentiate between the two. Pulmonary and critical care specialist Dr. Benjamin Singer of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine explains that not only does differentiating matter, but it needs to be determined quickly. Although supportive care for influenza and COVID is similar, medications and other treatments are not. In fact, some trials showed that a drug that might be effective for a patient who is hospitalized with COVID can be harmful to a patient who has influenza, and vice versa.
There are too many unknowns for anyone to truly predict the upcoming flu season. As the country reopens, will people continue to practice hand hygiene and physical distancing and to wear face masks? Will people be more likely to get their flu vaccine because of COVID, or will they be less likely, because it requires getting out and around other people? Will patients get tested for both COVID and flu whenever they show symptoms that could be of both?
How should EMS prepare for “FluVid”?
- We must take care of our most important resource: our employees. It is critical to stay vigilant in wearing PPE and assuming that everyone has COVID. These measures not only protect crews from COVID but from flu as well.
- Continue to obtain PPE, knowing that COVID could surge again or simply stay. Determine whether you have enough PPE and the right type. PPE inventory is key to safely responding to emergencies.
- Hopefully during this pandemic, you strengthened the relationship with your hospital partners. COVID has shown how critical the exchange of information is between EMS and hospitals. Meet with administrators and formalize that exchange process.
- EMS can be part of public education. Whether you have the ability to reach thousands or only one person at a time, help the public to understand the importance of good hand hygiene, physical distancing, and wearing face masks to protect themselves from both COVID and flu. It also is important to encourage people to get vaccinated for the flu.
- EMS should be the role model. Crews must demonstrate proper infection control measures whether on an emergency run or just out among the public. Actions speak louder than words.
- Organizations have created procedures on how to manage members who became exposed to or infected with COVID. Those procedures need to be expanded to include testing and management of flu.
While we all have battled one of the worst pandemics in history, we simultaneously learned many lessons. During this “lull” before flu season, we should communicate those lessons to our internal members, the public and EMS counterparts. Use this time to re-evaluate policies, PPE, response procedures and relationships with key external stakeholders, such as hospitals and vendors. It only is a matter of time before “FluVid” becomes a reality. Now is the time for us to prepare for the worst and to hope for the best.
