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Unfortunately, winter is approaching with a number of other respiratory viruses, the worst of which is the flu. Should we worry about being infected with both SARS-CoV-2 and the flu virus at the same time?
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Recent news reports that Covid-19 and influenza co-infection have been confirmed in California, USA. It is a vivid reminder that we still face tough challenges. True, the unfortunate person who became infected with both viruses at the same time now seems to have fully recovered.
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During this phase of the pandemic, a number of patients have been observed who have been similarly unlucky. The first news about co-infected patients appeared in the scientific journal on March 25 “The Lancet”. Nine of the 1,054 patients in Wuhan and surrounding areas were reported to be infected with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. Of these patients, only one had not recovered by the end of the publication.
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Since then, 83 cases of both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported worldwide. Interestingly, in many of these studies, the researchers found that the flu did not make the course and outcome of Covid-19 worse or better.
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However, the number of people infected with both viruses is still very low, partly because it is very difficult to find out. This is because when a doctor receives information that a patient has a positive Covid-19 test, they are rarely tested for another viral infection. Instead, continue to treat the symptoms of Covid-19, which can be very similar to the symptoms of the flu.
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The influenza virus is known for its ability to transform during co-infection and to take over various traits from other influenza viruses, which can eventually lead to the spread of the virus from animal to human, as observed in the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
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However, SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus, a completely different family of viruses from influenza viruses, so the influenza virus cannot transform and take over its properties in this case. The potential danger is associated with an overload of the immune system when the body is infected with both viruses at the same time.
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That’s why getting vaccinated against the flu this winter is very important. Both to reduce such co-infections and to reduce the number of influenza patients in already overcrowded hospitals.
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