WELLINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- As New Zealand is heading into winter, the influenza season may compound the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, a New Zealand epidemiologist has said.
"The northern hemisphere is getting warmer and viruses don't tend to like the warmer climate as well," said David Murdoch, dean of the University of Otago (Christchurch), who specializes in epidemiology, specifically diagnosis and prevention of respiratory tract infections.
However, the big worry is the influenza season coming in winter, he told Xinhua in a recent interview. "What we don't know is what happens if coronavirus corresponds with influenza and at least it would confuse things which means more people are unwell."
"I don't know whether there's a risk of somebody having both infections at once. Getting the influenza vaccine this year is very important," said the professor, who is on the Ministry of Health's advisor group.
After all, the expert expressed confidence that the New Zealand medical system could handle the pandemic. "The country has had a pandemic plan for quite a few years. So there has been preparation."
Noting that influenza was the most likely virus compared with coronavirus, Murdoch said, this sort of pandemic potentially can overwhelm any system if it is really bad.
As to prevention measures, he said a mask is certainly effective at preventing the spread of a respiratory infection, and physical distancing should always be effective.
