The seasonal flu is sometimes teaming up with the coronaviruses. The first apparent case of a co-infection of flu and the SARS-CoV-2 virus was reported by Los Angeles testing site officials on Wednesday. A teenage boy is only experiencing mild illness after being bitten.
Steve Farzam, CFO of the company that runs the Los Angeles covid-19 testing center, said the case was detected four days ago. The boy and his family had just returned from a vacation. One of his parents tested positive for covid-19, but only he tested positive for the other two viruses, and he was the only person in his family who felt sick.
Since the beginning of the Pandemic, there have been scattered reports of people coming down with flu and the coronaviruses, but it is only recently that flurona has emerged as a more pressing concern. The seasonal flu disappeared in many parts of the world throughout 2020 and much of 2021, thanks to measures that curbed transmission of the less contagious flu and other germs. Over time, these measures have softened, and cases of flu have started to show up in the U.S., this winter.
Israeli health officials reported their first known case of flurona last week. This latest case is almost certainly not the first instance of someone in the U.S. catching both infections.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Farzam said this was the first one they were aware of.
The doctors at Texas Children's Hospital reported a flurona case in a young patient. The patient is at home and doing well.
There is some evidence that suggests that co-infections of coronaviruses and flu can cause more harm than just flu alone. It is not clear if the same would be true for humans, and there are other factors that can influence the risk of serious illness from any infections.
It is not overly concerning, but it is concerning and can be problematic for someone who has a history of medical problems. Farzam spoke.
The risk of catching flurona is real this winter. The United States is in the middle of a new wave of a disease called the Delta variant and the Omicron variant, which can cause some type of immunity deficiency. The flu season is also picking up pace, with cases and hospitalizations on the rise. Flu activity is moderate to high in parts of the Southern and Eastern U.S.
Thankfully, there are vaccines available for both the flu and covid-19, and while neither is perfect at preventing infections, they reduce the risk of severe illness. You can catch both flu and covid at the same time, so you can also get vaccinations for both at once. Other simple precautions, like wearing a mask inside public indoor spaces, washing your hands, and staying home when sick, can reduce the risk of either infection spreading.
