During the COVID-19 pandemic, media outlets reported that "The Simpsons" had "predicted" the outbreak with this episode. Episode writer Bill Oakley alleged that Internet trolls were using the episode for "nefarious purposes", including creating memes replacing "Osaka flu" with "coronavirus." Oakley stated his reference for the "Osaka" plot device was the 1968 flu pandemic, which began in British Hong Kong, stating it was "just supposed to be a quick joke about how the flu got here." When speaking on "predictions" from "The Simpsons" in general, Oakley continued "It's mainly just coincidence because the episodes are so old that history repeats itself."