In parallel with the Covid, the flu seems to be gaining in virulence. Several French-speaking hospitals are now testing patients for the two diseases. Cases of “flurona” have been detected.
© Raphael Moser / Tamedia AG
It is possible to test patients for both diseases with a single sample.
In the event of symptoms compatible with the coronavirus, patients crossing the door of a French-speaking hospital were already screened for SARS-CoV-2. Now, some hospitals are also flushing out influenza, the seasonal flu virus. And this in a systematic way. “All the patients admitted to the HFR have indeed a combined research by PCR”, confirms Katelijne Dick, of the communication service of the Fribourgeois hospital. Ditto for the Valais Hospital (HVS), or the Riviera-Chablais Hospital (HRC).
But that the patients are reassured, one will not thread them two sticks of 15 cm in the nostrils. “We systematically search for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 on the same sample”, specifies Joakim Faiss, specialist collaborator at the HVS.
“Sharp increase since December 30”
This measure is linked to a seasonal increase in influenza cases. If last winter, barrier gestures, teleworking and other health measures had greatly reduced infections, this does not seem to be the case this time. “Last year the flu was non-existent. On the other hand, if we compare this winter to those before the Covid, we do not have the impression that the situation is different ”, estimates the communicator of the HFR. Moreover, the latter also mentions that “there seems to be a clear increase in positive PCRs for influenza since December 30”.
In addition, on Monday, the Israeli authorities informed that they feared having to manage a double epidemic, following the discovery of a first case of «Flurona», in other words a combined influenza and Covid infection. However, several situations of this type have already occurred in French-speaking Switzerland. “We have recorded a few anecdotal cases of double infection, which do not appear to be more severe so far. However, we can expect to see more co-infections in the coming weeks in view of the significant circulation of the two viruses concerned, ”indicates the HSV. As for the HFR: “A single patient had a positive PCR for influenza and Covid simultaneously. The latter was not hospitalized. “