| Influenza and COVID-19: Five tips for a safer winter |
Millions of people in the Western Pacific Region could face a winter in which both influenza and COVID-19 are circulating.
Cases of seasonal influenza, known as the flu, could be higher now than earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the spread of flu was limited by measures that people took to stop the spread of COVID-19, such as physical distancing, mask wearing, and hand and cough hygiene.
The coming months could bring more flu because people are mixing and travelling more, and they have less immunity to the flu because it circulated less last winter. At the same time, there is still pressure on health systems because of the pandemic. Even countries and areas in the Southern Hemisphere or near the equator may see a rise in the flu over the next few months as more people travel globally.
Both the flu and COVID-19 can be fatal. Before the pandemic, seasonal influenza caused up to 650 000 deaths globally a year.
A nurse is giving vaccination to a pregnant woman.
Here are five tips for a safer winter from the World Health Organization:
1. Know the symptoms
The flu and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses, but they are both infectious respiratory diseases, spread by droplets and aerosols when infected people cough, sneeze, speak, sing, breathe, etc.
They have similar symptoms, including cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache and fatigue. People may have varying levels of illness with both the flu and COVID-19. Some may have no symptoms, while others have mild symptoms or severe disease.
Because symptoms are similar, you may need to take a test if you are in a risk group, so that treatment can begin quickly, if needed.
The flu is different from the common cold, which can be caused by several viruses. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than those with the flu or COVID-19. Colds do not usually result in serious health problems.
Another virus that might be in circulation is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is mostly seen in young children and the elderly. It causes wheezing and breathing problems. Most people recover in a week or two; however, RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older people, leading to death in some cases.
2. Know who is at risk
For both the flu and COVID-19, the people most at risk of serious illness are older people, anyone who is pregnant and people with underlying conditions, such as cancers and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The flu can put children under five at risk of severe disease; whereas anyone at any age can get sick, become seriously ill and die from COVID-19.
Health-care workers are at high risk of getting both diseases because they are more exposed to patients. They, in turn, risk spreading the diseases to people who are at risk.
3. Get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19
Vaccination is very effective at protecting people against severe illness and death from the flu and COVID-19. It is especially important to be vaccinated if you are a health-care worker or a person at higher risk of severe illness.
The best time to get the flu vaccine is just before the flu season starts.
The best time to get the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot is when you become eligible.
It is safe to get your COVID-19 vaccination and annual flu shot at the same time.
4. Keep flu away from yourself and others
The same measures to stay safe from COVID-19 also limit the risk of catching or spreading the flu:
- Keep your hands clean by regularly washing them with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a bent elbow or a tissue and dispose of the used tissue in a bin with a lid
- Stay at home if you feel sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Open windows to encourage air flow
- Wear a mask
5. Stay home if you feel unwell
If you feel unwell, stay at home, if you can. This will help to make sure you don’t pass viruses onto others and it will help to reduce pressure on health services. This simple step saves lives.
If you are in a high-risk group and feel unwell with the flu or COVID-19, seek medical care as soon as possible.
If you are not in a high-risk group, isolate at home and treat the symptoms, such as fever and sore throat.
Many people who test positive for COVID-19 and have no symptoms or mild symptoms can safely recover at home in isolation. People who are aged over 60, pregnant, immunocompromised or unvaccinated, or who have underlying conditions, should contact their health-care provider for advice. Learn the eight steps to safe home-based recovery from COVID-19, including the red flags for when you should seek help.
The viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19 do not respond to antibiotics. However, some people who become ill with viruses can also develop bacterial infections as a complication. In this case, antibiotics may be recommended by a health-care provider. Learn more about COVID-19 and antibiotics.
A safer winter
There is an increased risk of both the flu and COVID-19 circulating over the next few months. For a safer winter, you should know the symptoms and who is at risk, get vaccinated, take steps to protect yourself and others, and stay safe if you get sick.
Information Source:
https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news-room/feature-stories/item/influenza-and-covid-19–five-tips-for-a-safer-winter