As the weather grows cold in the northern hemisphere, health experts are warning that this could be the season when influenza makes a comeback. While masking and social distancing limited the flu’s spread the past couple years, those precautionary measures have disappeared in recent months. And in the southern hemisphere, where flu is most active from April to October, there’s already been a severe flu season—with Australia reporting triple the number of cases compared to the annual average over the last five years.
In addition to concern about a severe flu season in the U.S. and other countries, health experts are worried that people could be at serious risk if they’re infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time, my colleague Alice Park reports. This is especially concerning, Alice notes, because each virus can make people more vulnerable to other infections, including pneumonia.
While data are limited, there are warning signs that the combination of COVID-19 and flu could be very dangerous, even for people who are at relatively low risk for severe outcomes. For instance, a U.K. study looking at hospital records for people with co-infections found that those who had both influenza and COVID-19 were about four times more likely to require mechanical ventilation, and twice as likely to die, compared to people who just had COVID-19. Meanwhile, a study of 17 people in Saudi Arabia found that those who were infected with both the flu and COVID-19 were more likely to die and be hospitalized than patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and a different type of bacteria that can cause respiratory infections
“We can, with some confidence, say that being infected with flu and SARS-CoV-2 at the same time increases the risk of both needing to go on a ventilator and needing intensive care, and of death,” said Dr. J. Kenneth Baillie, co-author of the study based on hospital records.
Experts stress the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, including with the latest booster shot, which targets the SARS-CoV-2 variant currently circulating. Wearing a mask, especially in places that are crowded or have limited ventilation, can also limit the spread of both viruses. These steps can help keep you safe, while curbing the spread in your community and preventing the surges that overwhelm hospitals.
Nearly 622 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 8 a.m. E.T. today, and nearly 6.6 million people have died. On Oct. 10, there were 502,509 new cases and 1,230 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending, in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 10 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded more than 96.7 million coronavirus cases as of 8 a.m. E.T. today. More than 1.06 million people have died. On Oct. 10, there were 21,876 new cases reported in the U.S., and 117 deaths were confirmed.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Oct. 11. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
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WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford’s nasal vaccine failed in a clinical trial, the university announced today. Only some participants experienced an antibody response in their respiratory mucous membranes, and participants’ immune response was weaker than for intramuscular vaccines. "This study suggests there are likely to be challenges in making nasal sprays a reliable option,” Sandy Douglas, the trial's chief investigator, said in a press statement.
As new COVID-19 outbreaks are reported across China, some cities are again imposing lockdown measures and restrictimg travel, the Associated Press reports. The city Fenyang in the northern Shanxi province was placed under lockdown yesterday after citywide testing detected one positive case. Hohhot—the capital of the Inner Mongolia region—has banned vehicles and passengers from outside the city from entering after more than 2,000 cases were reported over 12 days. And in Shanghai, entertainment venues like cinemas were shuttered in several districts on Monday.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its 2023 outlook for the global economy, citing the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and chronic inflation, the agency announced on Oct. 6. The IMF forecast the world economy would grow a modest 2.7% next year, down from its estimate of 2.9% in July. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that there’s a rising risk of a recession, and that the world economy is facing a “period of historic fragility."
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Today's newsletter was written by Tara Law and edited by Angela Haupt.
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