Post B1vIPnS4ewDdYUeeum by augieray@mastodon.social
 (DIR) More posts by augieray@mastodon.social
 (DIR) Post #B1vIPmHkzoN7wCouC8 by augieray@mastodon.social
       2026-01-03T14:54:30Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Saw someone claim that illness today is mostly #COVID19, not #Flu. They are mistaken. I'm no COVID minimizer, but data tells us COVID is moderate and Influenza A is very high.Here is the BIOFIRE chart of the positive rate of COVID and Flu A over time.In winter 2023/24, we had a 2-4x higher positive rate for COVID than for the flu.In 2024/25, the positive rate was 2-3x higher for flu than for COVID.Now, flu positive rate is 6x higher. Why is this happening, and what's next?1/2
       
 (DIR) Post #B1vIPnS4ewDdYUeeum by augieray@mastodon.social
       2026-01-03T14:56:33Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       We haven't seen a major COVID mutation since winter 2021/22. As a result, COVID waves have declined. Meanwhile, Subclade K Influenza A is driving more illness this winter.But I think it's more than that. Research tells us that COVID damages immunity, so we would expect other viruses to infect more people.And, while the declining surges of COVID in the past two years are very welcome, the most mutated variant in four years is rising globally, and we might see greater surges in 2026.2/2