Low flu numbers reported so far this season

The mountain of surging covid-19 cases and deaths in the u.s. is calling attention to the mole hill of flu- related activity.

Kq2's madeline mcclain with more on this bit of good news emerging this winter <<kq2's madeline mcclain reporting:public health experts feared a potential "twindemic" of both flu and coronavirus cases surging at the same time could create an impossible situation for hospitals.dana l.

Kapp, nurse practitioner, peacock pediatrics: we had two drive- thru clinics on saturday mornings.

I believe we had over 100 children vaccinated in both of those events so we still have a lot of parents interested in the flu vaccine.

Overall the u.s. has seen lower flu activity than what is typical this time of year.

Dana l.

Kapp, nurse practitioner, peacock pediatrics: so far peacock pediatrics has not seen any positive cases, we have tested symptomatic kids but so far we haven't had anyone turn up positive."in the southern hemisphere where the flu season stretches from june to august widespread lockdowns, hand washing and other precautions against covid-19 drove flu down to record-low levels.dana l.

Kapp, nurse practitioner, peacock pediatrics: "i still think its a little too early to tell but i think with the coronavirus people are being much more aware, they are being much more careful so i feel much more people are staying home if they don't feel well whereas a year ago they may not have thought twice about going to the grocery store.

People are doing a better job washing their handssignalling potentially good news.dana l.

Kapp, nurse practitioner, peacock pediatrics: but we are not doing a great job social distancing always and some of those things so i think we need to be careful because it could kind of sneak upon us."

Another complicating factor is that peacock pediatrics has had more parents this year ask whether the flu shot is necessary given the prevention measures they've been taking.

Dana l.

Kapp, nurse practitioner, peacock pediatrics: we don't know what kind of flu season we are going to have just because its had a slow start doesn't mean we aren't going to have just as bad a flu season as we've had the last couple of years."

The answer is yes it's necessary last year, this year, next year.dana l.

Kapp, nurse practitioner, peacock pediatrics: "this is still very early flu season so the sooner the better because it takes around 2 weeks for our body to build immunity from the flu vaccine so you want to get it sooner rather than later."reporting, madeline mcclain kq2 news.

According to state data -- so far this flu season there has been only one flu related death.

At the same time last year there were more than 300 flu-related deaths in the