Together, the flu and the coronavirus have had a tremendous global impact. Covid-19, the virus behind the coronavirus has had a huge social impact on society. What’s far worse, Covid-19 and the flu share similarities. However, health officials have been unable to use traditional flu medication to stop the spread or cure the coronavirus. Many people believe the virus has reached a pandemic because of the initial slow containment efforts. The greatest threat of Covid-19 is the spread from person-to-person and its ability to remain viable in the air for up to three hours. Experts still haven’t determined how long it can live on objects, but it’s presumed to be a couple of days.
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History Of Flu
The flu is also known as influenza is a common virus infection that can be fatal. Each year there are an estimated three million reported cases of the flu. According to the Center of Disease Control, “the 1918 influenza outbreak was the most severe pandemic during recent history.”
During the early 1900’s era, society was overcome with the H1N1 virus that was responsible for the influenza pandemic of 1918. Military personnel were the first to test positive for the virus.
The mortality rate was also higher in people younger than 5 years old. There was also a high mortality rate in healthy people 20-40 years old. In fact, eventually, 1/3 of the world’s population would succumb to influenza. Like Covid-19, the threat was rapidly spreading the disease from person-to-person and causing mass contamination.
Moreover, the worldwide containment efforts were limited to non-pharmaceutical intervention that consisted of quarantine, isolation, and good hygiene. Finally, the health experts suggested the use of disinfectants and a limitation on public gatherings resembling the early stages of containment to limit the coronavirus. Influenza can have an impact on the whole body. The symptoms can also be compared to the Covid-19 which includes:
- fever
- chills
- runny nose
- cough (with or without phlegm)
- muscle aches
- fatigue
Today there is a vaccine available for influenza for both children and adults commonly referred to as the “flu shot.”.
Impact Of Covid-19
The first active case of the coronavirus was in Wuhan, China and eventually spread to a global pandemic according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on the information WHO received, shortly after, the result was a global pandemic. Although the world has battled a pandemic before, Covid-19 created a large amount of uncertainty. Spread by person-to-person contact, the coronavirus still acts as an unknown that threatens society.
Health officials know what it is, but they’re only in the beginning stages of finding a cure or a vaccine to minimize the spread of Covid-19. Until then, the options are a global lockdown or economical collapse. China’s containment efforts have seen a drop in the reported number of domestic coronavirus cases. There has also been increased anxiety over going outside of the home for many workers and students. Symptoms of Covid-19 include:
- cough
- fever
- tiredness
- respiratory illness
- headache
- sore throat
- rhinorrhea
In severe cases, patients may have difficulty breathing and need a ventilator. Older adults and people with underlying health issues like asthma, heart disease, or diabetes have a greater chance for the virus to have a serious or fatal reaction. If you’re experience symptoms of Covid-19, seek immediate medical attention. Exposure from the coronavirus can occur two to four days later.
A small group of people test positive for Covid-19 or are asymptomatic. There has been mention of the drug called chloroquine to fight the spread of the coronavirus. President Donald Trump was one of the first to speak out on the antimalaria drug chloroquine. The WHO has indicated that mild cases of Covid-19 will not require hospitalization, but rather isolation to prevent the spread of the virus.
Why Coronavirus And Flu Should Not Be Compared
There is a number of significant similarities with the flu and Covid-19, but the overall death rate isn’t the same. Consequently, 3.4% of the population has died from the coronavirus compared to 1% from the flu. The flu season is responsible for far fewer deaths than influenza. More importantly, there is not reported immunity for the coronavirus.
The younger population has started to be impacted by the Covid-19 virus more than initially expected. Influenza appears to also be a seasonal infection while the transmission of Covid-19 is still being studied. The symptoms of the coronavirus and flu are the same, but the end-result must focus on the here and now of Covid-19 to stop the spread.
In the early stages, Covid-19 and the flu have similar symptoms, but they also have huge differences. Covid-19 and the flu are also both respiratory illnesses, but the coronavirus has an incubation period of 1-14 days while symptoms of the flu come forth within 1-4 days.
The flu usually comes on suddenly while the coronavirus can have gradual symptoms. The huge difference appears to be the severity and the mortality rate among the two viruses. More people are dying from the spread of Covid-19 than from the flu. Both of the viruses appear to have a greater impact on patients with existing conditions or compromised immune systems.
What To Expect From Future Of Covid-19
There is a vaccine for influenza, but a cure for the coronavirus is still underway. Researchers are currently doing a research study on health patients as well as lab tests to develop a cure for Covid-19. It’s important to follow the advice of knowledgeable medical experts of influenza and the flu to remain healthy. Isolation has been a successful measure of controlling both viruses. Medical experts warn against listening to non-medical advice or self-medicating. However, a pain reliever may be necessary to alleviate the pain associated with the flu and Covid-19.
There are currently no antiviral drugs approved to fight the coronavirus. Doctors have only been able to treat the symptoms and complications associated with the coronavirus.
Take a look at how you can be impacted by the coronavirus by viewing the short video clip below:
