The “flurona”, fusion between influenza and Covid, detected

“Flurona”. The word may sound scary, but the affected patient was able to leave the hospital without suffering from serious injury. An unvaccinated pregnant woman contracted both Covid-19 and the flu in Israel. A rare case, but which still worries the authorities of the country. Health services fear having to manage a double epidemic as the return of the seasonal flu is confirmed.

“It’s the same disease. Both attack the respiratory system, ”said Professor Arnon Vizhnitser, director of the gynecology department at Petah Tikva hospital, where the patient tested positive for both viruses. Other similar cases exist in the country, but have not yet been able to be diagnosed. This is not the first time that such a combination has been spotted. In 2020, patients also contracted the flu at the same time as the Covid.

The flu is back

Also very contagious, the flu generally makes its return every winter, but the generalization of barrier gestures had made it possible to largely attenuate it last year, or even to prevent the circulation of the virus. Luxembourg thus did not experience an influenza epidemic during last winter. “Since I started working, I had never known this,” Dr. Jean-Paul Schwartz told “L’essentiel”, specifying that it had saved the lives of dozens of people.

A scenario that is unlikely to happen once more this winter. According to the latest data from the LNS (National Health Laboratory), dozens of cases of influenza have already been listed. More than 94,000 vaccines have been ordered.

(th / The essential)

.