06-10-2020
Covid-19

The flu season is almost here. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it may be difficult for one to differentiate between the symptoms of the two. Common symptoms of flu include fever, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and vomiting and diarrhoea (mostly in children and adults). COVID-19, on the other hand, causes fever, dry cough, tiredness, aches and pains, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell. In more severe cases, the infection can cause shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, chest pain or pressure, loss of speech or movement.

Flu and COVID-19- Don't be worried, be prepared
Dr Sylvie Briand, Director of WHO's Department of Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, explains how one can differentiate between COVID-19 and flu, and what are the precautions to be taken."We shouldn't be worried, we should rather be prepared. This is because we do have a vaccine for flu. We have antivirals and a set of measures that work for flu, and can reduce the morbidity and mortality linked to influenza," Dr Briand says in the WHO's IGTV.

Preventive tips COVID-19 like physical distancing, washing hands and avoiding close contact, can also work for influenza viruses, she adds. "The flu season was on in Southern hemisphere recently. These measures worked very well. The transmission of flu was very low," she informs.

However, one cannot be certain that this will be the case for Northern hemisphere this fall and winter, or the flu season."We shouldn't be worried, we should rather be prepared. This is because we do have a vaccine for flu. We have antivirals and a set of measures that work for flu, and can reduce the morbidity and mortality linked to influenza," Dr Briand said.

Preventive tips COVID-19 like physical distancing, washing hands and avoiding close contact, can also work for influenza viruses, she adds. "The flu season was on in Southern hemisphere recently. These measures worked very well. The transmission of flu was very low," she informs.However, one cannot be certain that this will be the case for Northern hemisphere this fall and winter, or the flu season.

COVID-19 and flu: How to differentiate?
These two viruses can infect the body and cause similar symptoms. When one sees a sign of severity, seeking medical advice is important. "For instance, if one experiences chest pain or difficulty to breathe, ask for medical advice. This is especially important for people with underlying conditions like cardiac disease or other chronic respiratory illness, asthma or diabetes," says Dr Briand.

Speaking of symptoms, there are a few signs that are specific to COVID-19, like loss of taste or smell.