The anxiety caused by the ‘Flurona’ case in Israel has not spared anyone. Breathe out!
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‘Flurona’ is not actually a variant of Coronavirus but is an infection where COVID-19 and Influenza co-occur. Take time to read the blog and get to know some actual facts about flu and COVID-19.
1) Presenting Symptoms
Are you trying to determine if your symptoms are due to the flu or COVID? Before assuming, remember that distinguishing between COVID and flu is challenging as far as symptoms are concerned. These conditions share a similar spectrum of signs like fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, body aches, headache, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of taste and smell sensation. So, stop trying to diagnose and treat yourself on your own; instead, reach out to your doctor.
2) Incubation Period
Do you know both flu and COVID-19 have different incubation periods? First, understand what an incubation period is. It is the time between the exposure time and infection onset. In terms of COVID-19, the incidence of symptoms takes a much longer time than flu and can take anywhere between 2 to 14 days. But in the flu, symptoms start within 1 to 4 days.
3) Infectious Period
Just like how COVID takes longer to show symptoms, it also remains contagious for an extended period than flu. With the flu, virus spread usually does not occur after a week, barring the immunocompromised. In contrast, people with COVID can remain infectious for at least ten days, and the same can double up in individuals with weakened immune systems. Do not come out just because you are asymptomatic; you can still pass on the virus.
4) Rate of Spread
Are you wondering how fast the flu spreads? To calm you down, we have a fact. Although the mode of spread of both the infections is almost similar, the rate at which flu spreads is comparatively less than the COVID-19 infection. Meaning COVID is much more contagious and spreads faster, and thus has ended in a pandemic. Yes, COVID spreads rapidly, but we have the right tools in our hands to slow down the spread. Follow adequate preventive guidelines and keep yourself away from infections.
5) Vaccines
The pandemic has brought out the popularity of COVID vaccines. But do you know vaccines for flu do exist? Although vaccines for flu are available, many people are not aware of it. There are influenza vaccines that have been approved by the FDA against four important circulating strains of the flu virus. Get vaccinations at your turn and reduce the risk of getting any serious complications.
Whatever be the infection, the handful of prophylactic measures available can curtail the spread. We are all in this together, and hopefully we will get through this together!
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