All I can say is that there is something new out there based on two things. There is a common reporting of people getting something like a cold or the flu and having an inability to smell without having nasal issues. I actually experienced this myself. I have had plenty of colds and maybe the flu once and have never lost the ability to smell. In fact I had never heard of such a thing happening before the covid times. Also, there are reports of people being hospitalized with breathing issues after getting something like a cold or flu. This was also a very rare thing. Actually, there is a third phenomenon that seems to also suggest something new is out there. There are several people reporting long-term debilitating problems after having this new cold or flu. They are being called covid long haulers. They report breathing issues, fatigue especially following exertion (results in an inability to exercise or play sports), depression, and other long-term problems. These things were not happening before to the extent they are happening now.