*Now it’s time to prepare for flu season, health experts warn. In particular, it has been speculated that this could be a very serious flu season.
* Older adults with COVID-19 are approximately twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
*The family of the founders of the world-famous outdoor brand Patagonia decided to donate 100% of the company’s ownership.
Reporter Park Hyun-kyung!
1. Flu season is already here. Do you think this flu season could be particularly dangerous?
Yes, this fall and winter could be a much worse flu season across the country than ever before, health experts warn.
This morning (15th), Congressional media outlet The Hill reported that experts expect a tougher flu season.
A tough flu season means more residents are more likely to get the flu.
As a result, it was pointed out that residents should be prepared.
2. Why do experts think more residents are particularly at risk of getting the flu this year?
Yes, mainly for two reasons.
First, it is because the mask that has been worn since the start of the pandemic is no longer used well.
We don’t use masks as much as we used to, so we’re more likely to come into contact with people with the flu than in the past two years, when we’ve been wearing masks.
The second reason is that this year, fewer residents are immune to the flu virus than ever before.
The decline in flu virus immunity is due to the decline in flu cases over the past two years as people stay home and avoid going out as much as possible during the pandemic.
In other words, it is an analysis that the influenza immunity has weakened because of the focus on preventing the corona virus rather than the flu virus.
3. It seems like there haven’t been many flu cases in the past two years. Did those statistics actually come out?
Yes, it is said that the average number of people exposed to the flu virus is as low as 10% to as high as 30%.
Experts say that herd immunity is formed naturally.
However, the proportion of residents exposed to the flu virus in 2020 and 2021, when the pandemic began, and last year were less than this.
This has resulted in reduced natural immunity as well.
You can see this by looking at the number of children who die from the flu.
Before the pandemic, more than 100 children died each year from the flu.
But in the last two flu seasons, there were fewer than 40.
Especially in 2020, there was only one.
Of course, it’s good to see fewer children who have died from the flu, but it means that herd immunity is weakening, which means that the risk is higher this flu season, so there are growing calls to be careful
4. Being careful means getting vaccinated against the flu, right?
you’re right.
When is the best time to get vaccinated for the 2022-23 flu season?
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC mentioned September and October.
However, it is generally thought that the Omicron booster shot has just started and is or is about to be received, but it is too early to even vaccinate against the flu..
There are many people who think that it would be better to get the corona and flu vaccinations a little bit later.
However, according to experts, you can get the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
They say the side effects are the same as getting one.
That’s why experts are stressing that it’s more important to think about the point in time when a flu shot will be effective for the entire flu season rather than thinking about the corona and flu vaccinations together.
5. Another health news. Older adults with COVID-19 have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, doesn’t it?
Yes, studies have shown that it is twice as high.
The results of a study by a research team at Case Western Reserve University were published in the journal Alzheimer’s on the 13th.
The researchers compared about 6 million Americans over the age of 65 who had never had Alzheimer’s and found that those with COVID-19 had a 50-80% increase in Alzheimer’s disease within one year, compared to those who did not.
In addition, the study found that older adults with COVID-19 nearly doubled the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, from about 0.35% to 0.68%.
In particular, the elderly aged 85 years and older were most affected by an increase of about 90%.
In terms of gender, women have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s than men.
6. But, isn’t this the first time that a study showing that infection with COVID-19 increases the risk of developing dementia?
Yes, another study came out at the end of last month.
At that time, the Financial Times reported the results of such a study by a research team at Oxford University in England.
If you are infected with COVID-19, your risk of developing dementia within two years increases.
In particular, in the case of the elderly 65 years or older, the impact of COVID-19 infection was most pronounced, and 4.5% of them developed dementia within 2 years of infection.
The control group was 3.3%.
7. So, can it be seen that COVID-19 is the cause of Alzheimer’s?
That’s unclear.
The Case Western Reserve University research team, who published the findings this time, is of the view that it is not clear whether COVID-19 is a new cause of Alzheimer’s disease or is accelerating the onset.
However, Professor Pamela Davis, who conducted the study, explained, “Viral infection and inflammation in the body are considered to be important causes of Alzheimer’s disease.”
In addition, as there is no definite treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to correct risk factors such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle in order to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in elderly people who have contracted COVID-19.
8. Next news. Is it the news that the chairman of the outdoor brand Patagonia will donate 100% of the shares?
Yes, Patagonia founder Yvonne Shinar’s family has transferred ownership of the company to environmental groups and non-profit foundations.
Yvonne Sheena revealed in an interview with The New York Times yesterday (14th) that she had transferred 100% of the shares owned by herself, his wife and two children.
The value of the stake passed over by the Shenards is about $3 billion.
9. Is there a reason you donated like that?
Yes, Shinar said he hoped it would help to form a new form of capitalism, not capitalism that results in a few rich people and countless poor people.
Then he said that we would donate as much money as possible to those who work to save the planet.
All of Patagonia’s $100 million annual revenue will be used for climate change and environmental protection efforts.
Chairman Shinar said that after this donation, he was relieved to be able to put his life in order.
Chairman Shinar is 83 years old this year.
Now I may die tomorrow, but Patagonia will be able to do the right thing for the next 50 years.