With all the health concerns we’ve all had for the last year, it comes as some relief that recent influenza reports show lower than usual cases across the entire U.S. — including territories such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Perhaps it’s not a big surprise to see this. After all, with everyone wearing masks and washing their hands more diligently than before it would be tougher to spread the flu than in years past.
But just how big of a difference are we talking?
Healthline.com reports that last year at this time the flu was pretty widespread, reaching 9 million cases. In fact, cases of pediatric death (where kids passed away from particularly bad cases) had reached a 17 year high.
Through that lens it’s pretty impressive that our lifestyle changes have pivoted us from a nearly 20 year high in some regards to far lower than average infection rate.