By Cheryl M. Luis
In 2022, Flu season is never any fun anymore with the emergence of the coronavirus; it has only become more stressful. And now the world is reporting cases of a double disaster, a combination of Covid-19 and Flu, another respiratory disease emerges, and it is called Florona.
To help you understand Florona, here is the overview of these two respiratory diseases that could infect your body.
Flu
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best to prevent flu is to get a vaccine which is administered yearly.
The flu symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days. For people who’ve had a flu shot, the symptoms may last a shorter amount of time, or be less severe. For other people, the symptoms may last longer. Even when symptoms resolve, you may continue to feel fatigued.
Boasting your immune system is the right way to fight the flu. Stay up-to-date on recommended vaccines, maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, hydrate, get plenty of sleep and minimize stress.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illnesses. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the disease and how the virus spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 meter apart from others, wearing a properly fitted mask, and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn and follow local guidance.
The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. It is important to practice respiratory etiquette, for example by coughing into a flexed elbow, and to stay home and self-isolate until you recover if you feel unwell.
Florona
Florona is not a COVID-19 variant but merely the occurrence of two infections at the same time. The infection of Flu + Covid-19 becomes Florona.
Israel has reported the first-ever incidence of both infections in pregnant patients. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the young woman was not vaccinated with COVID-19 or a Flu vaccine.
Florona is indicative of a severe lapse in the immunity system because two viruses are infecting the human body simultaneously.
Experts are still in the process of studying the situation, but Dr. Nahla Abdel Wahab, a doctor at Cairo University Hospital, told Israeli media that Florona may indicate a major breakdown of the immunity system, since its being simultaneously attacked.
People must not panic as it is not a new variant.
Earlier, there were unconfirmed reports about the detection of Delmicron, which, again, is not a new variant. In Europe and the US, there have been cases where SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Omicron attack at the same time.
So far, the World Health Organization (WHO) has named Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron as variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2.
Cheryl M. Luis is the wife of George N. True II. Like her husband, she advocates health and lifestyle writing and vows to continue “Health Frontiers” as her husband’s legacy.
