What Is Flurona and Should We Be Concerned About It?
COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory viruses that can range from annoying to life-threatening, and public health experts are concerned about what could happen if both viruses become widespread at the same time (the dreaded ” twin disease “). In addition to the individual damage to the healthcare system, there are also concerns that people could get both at the same time.
This is what happened in the case of several headline people who have what is called “flurona”. Despite the covert tone of panic, you need to know one thing: this is not a new disease.
What is Fluron?
Fluron is not a thing, understand? Despite the single name, it is not a hybrid of the two viruses. It simply means that one person is infected with these two viruses at the same time. (It’s also not a scientific or medical term, just a name made up for sounding intimidating, like ” killer hornets “.)
It’s like stepping on dog poop and then being pooped on by a bird the same day. It would suck, and it would be a strange coincidence, but this is not some special new mutant poop tragedy.
Cases of coinfection of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (that’s what it is called) is not a new phenomenon; There were cases even at the beginning of 2020. We also know that there have been recent cases in California, Texas and Florida, two pregnant women have recently co-infected in Israel, and there are at least six recent cases in Brazil, according to the Washington Post .
Most places are not simultaneously testing for COVID and influenza and tracking coinfections, so we don’t know yet if they are becoming more common. It should be remembered that last year the incidence of influenza was very low due to increased masks and distancing compared to previous years. Flu cases are already much higher than last year and this is more like a typical season, so more coinfections can be expected this year than last year.
What does this mean for me?
The most important takeaway is that it is important to be vaccinated against COVID and flu. Some of the co-infections have been in people who have had a COVID shot but not a recent flu shot. Getting a flu shot is an easy step to help protect you from co-infection. If you are going to get a COVID shot or a booster shot, you can even get a flu shot on the same day.
None of the vaccines is 100% effective, but each provides significant protection against its own virus. Both reduce the chance of serious complications if you become infected.
Los Angeles County, which recently reported a case of co-infection that made headlines, is offering combined testing for COVID and flu at select testing locations. Combined tests are available from some other test labs; Consider having one of these tests if you are feeling especially ill and if these tests are available to you. (It’s also possible to get separate tests for both; ask your doctor if you can’t find one.) The symptoms of both conditions are similar enough that you can’t tell the difference just by the symptoms.