Good Lifestyle

Earlier this week,Anthony Fauci, MD, Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), who made the headlines when he said "he would be verydifficult to see how football can be played This fall, "hugging the hopes of the NFL fans everywhere. But it is not only the players he is concerned about it is the fans, too. Now,Brad Humphreys, PhD, Professor of Economics at the University of West Virginia, has another reason to hitA break on the return of professional sport. His last research proves thatAmerican cities with professional sports teams see an increase in seasonal influenza deaths.

Humphreys andJane Ruseski, PhD, Associate Professor of Economics at Wvu, AnalyzedInfluenza mortality data from 1962 to 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the deaths of influenza increased from 5 to 24 percent during the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and the seasons, the stronger rising being during the NHL season.

The researchers examined what happened with the influenza mortality rates when a city has a new professional sport team compared to cities that do not have it. "In fact, after a new professional sport team came to a city, that the flu season and each season of the influenza after had more people who die from the flu," Humphreys said in a statement.

The report also showed a drop in influenza mortality in American cities during the season's stops, as at the 2011 NBA Lock-Out and the 1982 NFL strike.

RELATED:For more information up to date, sign up for our daily newsletter.

As the potentially fatal Covid-19 contagion continues to spread throughout the nation, these data could suggest that coronavirus could see another jump fans must return to the stages. "The opening of professional sports games to fans is probably a bad idea, in terms of public health," Humphreys said. "You are right on people and everyone screams, scream, high fiving and hugs. And you have people have eaten and drink. You could put the right of virus in the mouth. The bottom line is that we must be very careful if we are considering the opening of games to the fans. »

One of the things we know about the Covid-19 pandemic is than being in aCluttered and poorly ventilated environment inside-Is sports arena that host events are among the most dangerous. In addition, the release ofCree aerosol droplets, singing, singing or, That many fans do during a big game, dramatically increases the risk of spread.

"It's not one or two people who die. This is closer to 30 or 40 additional influenza deaths during the flu season. When you blow a virus that is more fatal like Covid-19, we could talk about hundreds of additional deaths because of these games, "added Humphreys. And for more on the places that pose a danger, seeThese will be the last places to reopen after coronavirus.