DELAWARE - Flu season is underway and while COVID-19 also posing a potentially deadly risk, those in and outside of the medical community are faced with how to handle both viruses at the same time. Among a number of challenges faced by physicians and the public is knowing for certain which is which based on symptoms alone.
Public health officials have been warning that symptoms for COVID and the flu can be same. Beebe Healthcare's Dr. Bill Chasanov notes that even some of the more distinctive signs can't be used as definitive indicators of either virus. “One of the tell-tale signs of COVID-19 is this unusual loss of taste and smell, that does not generally occur with the flu," said the infectious disease physician. "But sometimes people become so congested with the flu in their sinuses that they actually do lose taste or smell”.
So what should one do experiencing nausea, fatigue, coughing, or similar conditions? Doctors say don't rule out either possibility. “First thing is just to stay isolated," said Dr. John Fink, Vice President for Quality and Medical Affairs at Bayhealth. Dr. Fink also advised people "contact your provider or primary care physician over the phone, and maybe think about getting tested at one of the drive-up facilities where you would maintain minimal contact with people”.
For those thinking a similarity in symptoms between viruses means taking one vaccine will do the job of both - physicians say this is not the case. "No matter if you receive a flu vaccine that protects you against 4 strains of the flu or 3 strains of the flu, none of those will actually protect you against COVID-19," said Dr. Chasanov.
Americans are still awaiting widespread availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, but many are still unsure whether or not they will actually get inoculated. Interest in taking the flu vaccine has seemed to increase in the first state, however, and public health officials believe COVID concerns could be why.
Dr. Rick Hong, State Director for Delaware's Department of Public Health said, “last year we had reported around 280 thousand flu vaccinations and this year we have a little higher around 330 thousand. Similar sentiments were also seen at Beebe's Sussex County flu clinics which reported a nearly 20% increase in vaccinations.
Medical experts advise that while Delaware is projected to see a mild flu season compared to years past, people continue practices like social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing to minimize the spread of both COVID-19 and the flu.