This year in Cyprus there was a decrease in the incidence of seasonal influenza, an outbreak of which is traditionally recorded in November and December. Physicians believe that this was due to existing measures to reduce the incidence of COVID-19.

Experts explained that use of masks, restriction of contacts and observance of social distance helped to avoid mass spread of seasonal influenza A virus. Provided these measures are maintained, they predict the incidence of influenza is much lower than usual for the season and terrain. This phenomenon has already been registered in spring, when the country imposed restrictions against the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the worst that can happen due to non-compliance with such measures is the simultaneous infection with influenza A and coronavirus. A precedent has already been set in one of the countries of the southern hemisphere.