Taking place today, World Pneumonia Day will be held during a global pandemic that is dramatically increasing pneumonia deaths from COVID-19 and other causes.

Pneumonia is the single biggest infectious killer of adults and children – claiming the lives of 2.5 million, including 672,000 children, in 2019.

It is the fifth most common cause of death in Ireland, with over 1,000 people dying from pneumonia in Ireland each year.

It is estimated that COVID-19 could add 1.9 million to the global death toll this year. No other infection causes this burden of death. This increased pressure on global health services is expected to impact other diseases.

Disruptions to healthcare services are estimated to cause up to an additional 2.3 million child deaths – 35% from pneumonia and new-born sepsis.

Many countries across the world are struggling with the heavy burdens of COVID-19 and pneumonia. Many of these places will need effective strategies to fight both, especially as we move further towards the

This World Pneumonia Day 2020, Empeal supports the call for governments and other stakeholders to ensure that the massive effort to manage and contain the pandemic will contribute to reducing respiratory infections and deaths for the long term.

Winter always brings an increase in the cases during the cold season, as we spend time indoors for longer periods and have longer contact with more bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Flu, viruses, and bacteria are prone to be stable in the air when there is a drop in temperatures and the particles remain in the air in respiratory droplets.

Bacteria that sits on our skin is usually harmless, but during the cold and flu season, our immune system decreases which makes us more vulnerable for bacterial infections to our lungs.

Although we’re currently in lockdown, it will be more important than ever to limit your contact with others, as you risk secondary infection from not only COVID-19, but flu and other viruses.

Ensure you always practice cough hygiene and wear a mask when heading out of the house. Continue to wash your hands as much as possible. If you do feel under the weather from cold or flu, make sure to take time to rest so you don’t reduce your immune system.