2 Reasons Why Flu Season Alongside Coronavirus May Be Overwhelming
by Sai Balasubramanian, J.D.Influenza (commonly known as the “flu”) is a contagious viral respiratory illness. Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance on what to expect regarding and how to prepare for the upcoming flu season, including details on the available flu vaccinations. What will be different this year however, is how nations will fight against both the flu and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the latter of which does not yet have a viable solution. This unprecedented combination will truly challenge healthcare systems and society in the coming months, for multiple reasons.
Differentiating The Two Viruses
One difficulty during flu season will be to truly differentiate the flu from coronavirus, as both share some similar symptoms. Per the CDC, a few of the many flu symptoms may or may not include “fever, or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness)...” among other things. Similarly, the CDC states that some symptoms of coronavirus may or may not 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...”etc. Neither of these lists of symptoms are comprehensive by any means, as both viruses may present with a variety of other different symptoms; an infected individual may or may not have some, many, or none of these complaints. However, there is some overlap between the presentations of both infections. Fortunately, rapid flu-testing is available and may help with the detection of the flu virus, though the efficacy is questionable and is dependent on a wide variety of factors. Testing modalities for coronavirus also exist, though significant aspects regarding their accuracy are still being determined.
Challenges to Healthcare Systems
The coronavirus has significantly affected healthcare systems worldwide, creating shortages in both personnel and equipment. As of May 27th, there are more than 5.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, and the United States accounts for nearly 1.6 million of these. While countries are balancing curtailing the spread of the virus with increasing pressure to reopen their borders and economies, the pandemic may continue to expand, especially if a second wave truly emerges in the coming months.
The flu virus causes a significant impact on health systems as well. Per the CDC, the preliminary estimates for the 2018-2019 flu season indicate that an estimated 490,000+ hospitalizations took place, and nearly 34,000+ deaths occurred. Although these numbers likely vary with seasonal discrepancies, they provide a general idea that the flu alone is not something to be ignored, especially when it comes to allocating health resources. Indeed, as both of these are very serious conditions and have relatively significant mortality rates for certain demographics, nations will need to determine how best to augment and prepare their healthcare systems and capacity.
Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic alone has been an unprecedented event, and has functionally changed life for billions of people around the world. This pandemic in conjunction with the upcoming flu season will also be unprecedented, and will present many challenges in the months to come.
The content of this article is not implied to be and should not be relied on or substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by any means, and is not written or intended as such. This content is for information purposes only. Consult with a trained medical professional for medical advice.