Earlier this year, a pregnant woman in Israel was found to have symptoms of seasonal flu and COVID-19 at the same time. Israeli officials were quick to report the dual case to local news outlets.
This prompted the media outlet, Times of Israel, to coin the term flurona to describe the country’s case. However, many misread the article and thought the issue was the first in the world. When in fact, cases of COVID-19 and the flu have been occurring in the US as early as March 2020.
As a result, panic ensued in online media. News reports amplified the report so much that flurona turned into a significant public health scare. But flurona isn’t real, or at least it shouldn’t cause as much panic as it should have, and here’s why.
What is flurona?
Flurona isn’t real, but it is possible to catch the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
Doctors at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City were the first ones to notice the pattern around March 2020. Testing at this time was slow, expensive, and limited. To make things more efficient, doctors ordered several tests for patients to eliminate the possibility of other infections.
They would rule out RSV, influenza, and other common infections first. Then, they would narrow down their scope by testing for COVID-19 and other viruses. Instead of finding answers, however, doctors found that 5 percent of the patients had COVID-19 and another virus.
The data alarmed doctors, who were concerned that this would mean that patients would have a more difficult recovery. However, studies show that patients who had COVID-19 and another infection were more adept at handling the virus.
Dr. Sarah Baron, a physician at the hospital, said, “They (patients with dual infection) had lower rates of inflammation in their body and were less likely to be admitted to the hospital.” Her hypothesis is backed by a paper she released under the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
Flurona isn’t real, or is it?
Now, the study is not by any means an in-depth look at the phenomenon. It studies just 14 cases, which leaves us with more questions than answers. However, it prompts doctors to take a deeper look at how medical cases play out in the pandemic.
There are several reactions that wait for patients infected with two viruses at once. First, the viruses would have little to no effect on the body. The second reaction is the one most people would expect – both viruses cause more damage to the host.
However, the third option, which is the event that Baron studied, is the most counterintuitive. If infections are contracted within a short time period, then it is likely that one infection will block the other’s effects.
Researchers say that the first infection triggers the body’s immune system and prompts the release of a protein called interferon. Once secreted, the proteins begin a process that prevents viruses from replicating. Depending on the timing, the interferon response made by the first infection can prevent the second one from replicating as well.
Scientists have known about viral interference since the 60s. Today, further research on the matter suggests that common colds can lower the risk of the COVID-19 virus replicating in the body. However, doctors say that people should not seek to catch colds to avoid COVID-19. After all, Flurona isn’t a wise way to protect yourself from the virus.
According to doctors, the concept of viral interference gives us a glimpse of how we can control future global outbreaks. it may also be a critical tool to help us navigate pandemics in the future.
