Experts Say Flu Is Down Significantly In Oklahoma Due To COVID-19 Precautions

Oklahoma's hospitals are filled because of COVID-19 cases, and despite an unusual drop in cases of flu.

Wednesday, January 13th 2021, 6:17 pm

By: Emory Bryan


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Oklahoma's hospitals are filled because of COVID-19 cases, and despite an unusual drop in cases of flu.

Data distributed to physicians by OSU Project Echo, a continuing education system, shows while flu normally peaks mid-January, with infections picked up at Christmas, this year, it's almost non-existent.

Experts studying the pandemic and hospitalizations say it's because people are taking precautions to avoid COVID-19 and avoiding the flu in the process.

During the unusually bad flu season of 2017-18, 288 Oklahomans died of flu and 4,800 people were sick enough to need hospitalization.

"If there's anything that shows what we're doing is making a difference, it's with flu. Since September 1, we've only had 122 hospitalizations and no deaths. Obviously when you compare it to COVID, those numbers get a little uncomfortable, needless to say,” Dr Jennifer Clark, who gathers data for OSU Project Echo, said.

The comparison for COVID-19 during the same time period show 2,000 people have died and 4,800 people have been hospitalized.



Emory Bryan

Emory Bryan is a general assignment reporter for News On 6. He began his news career covering the school board for his hometown radio station and worked on the newspaper staff in college before making the switch to television. Emory joined the News On 6 team in 1994.

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