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If you’ve ever worried whether you can have the flu and COVID at the same time, the headlines about “flurona” may have sent you into a fresh panic. Israel’s first case of what some have called “flurona,” has been reported, where a patient was doubly diagnosed with both infections — influenza and COVID-19. Note that “flurona” is not an official medical term or condition. Thankfully the patient, who was an unvaccinated, pregnant woman only experienced mild symptoms and has been released from the hospital, according to the Times of Israel.
While this may be the first reported case in Israel, the US has seen cases of these dual diseases as far back as Spring 2020. So by August 2020, experts were warning about a possible “twindemic” where flu season converges with a surge in COVID cases. During the normal flu season from 2020 to 2021, it didn’t happen, and flu cases were actually much lower, possibly because of social distancing and mask wearing.
But this year may be different. Health officials warn that as we’ve see a rise in flu cases across the country compared to the mild season last year, more cases of COVID and flu may occur.
What Are “Flurona” Symptoms?
There are no specific symptoms for “flurona” alone, which is not an actual condition. Rather a patient may experience the common symptoms of both flu and COVID, many of which overlap. According to the CDC, flu symptoms include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Some may experience vomiting or diarrhea (mostly children)
According to the CDC, COVID-19 symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny or nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you are having these symptoms, talk to your doctor and discuss getting testing. Since these are two separate infections, there is no single test, so you’ll need to get tested for both.
How Can You Prevent “Flurona?”
The best way to arm yourself again getting both infections simultaneously is to make sure you’ve had your flu shot and are fully vaccinated against COVID. Also continue to follow basic health guidelines of wearing a mask, washing your hands often, social distancing, and staying home if you feel ill to prevent the spread of germs.
POPSUGAR aims to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information about the coronavirus, but details and recommendations about this pandemic may have changed since publication. For the latest information on COVID-19, please check out resources from the WHO, the CDC, and local public health departments.