Arthur Gran, M.D., an infectious disease specialist with Troy Infectious Disease, part of St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates, spoke to the Times Union for an article that looked at how influenza rates have been exceptionally low this year across the country, including in New York.
Physicians interviewed for the article noted the lower rates were likely due to the social distancing, hand washing, and mask wearing that were required of people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the article:
Samaritan Hospital in Troy has seen less than a dozen flu-related admissions this year, according to Dr. Arthur Gran, the infectious disease physician at the hospital.
“I definitely think there are some lessons we can take from this pandemic. We are going apply what we’ve learned to other viral infections and influenza is definitely one of them,” Gran said. “But the flu isn’t going anywhere, we are going to be dealing with this next year and the following year, because there will always be more aggressive strains.”
Flu activity typically peaks between December and February, but the uptick typically begins in November and can last as late as May, according to health officials.
Click here to read the Times Union‘s full article.
