ERRATUM: An earlier version of this article suggested Flurona was a new virus. 'Flurona' is the neologism for a co-infection: Covid-19 and the seasonal flu. We apologise for this partially false information.
Discover our latest podcast
Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, there has been a tight watch on the kind of symptoms patients have been presenting when infected with the virus. However, with the emergence of new variants, like the Delta or the Omicron mutations, experts have noticed that the side effects actually differ from one strain to the other. Most recently, a double infection of the coronavirus and the flu has been observed, with its own particular symptoms observed.
What is flurona?
In Israel, an unvaccinated pregnant woman tested positive for both viruses at the same time. Luckily, her condition improved rather quickly, and she was discharged from the hospital with no serious consequences.
Surprisingly, this is not the first time a person has been infected with the two viruses simultaneously. In 2020, experts suspected that there was a high likelihood that several people in the United States could have caught the 'flurona' without even knowing it.
For now, the severity of this cocktail disease is not yet known, but investigations are currently underway.
Symptoms
According to Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, a medical researcher in health policy who has been closely following this disease, the main symptoms of flurona include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Body aches
There are no specific symptoms of this double infection that distinguishes it from normal flu or COVID, and therefore it is very difficult to know if you’ve got flurona without being tested. Health officials have warned that in order to prevent catching both viruses, you should get vaccinated not only against COVID but also against the seasonal flu.
