What’s the distinction between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19?
Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are each contagious respiratory diseases, however they’re attributable to totally different viruses. COVID-19 is attributable to an infection with a brand new coronavirus (known as SARS-CoV-2) and flu is attributable to an infection with influenza viruses.
There are some key variations between flu and COVID-19. COVID-19 appears to unfold extra simply than flu and causes extra critical diseases in some individuals. It might probably additionally take longer earlier than individuals present signs and other people may be contagious for longer. One other vital distinction is there’s a vaccine to guard in opposition to flu. There’s at present a restricted provide of COVID-19 vaccine in the US, however provide will improve within the weeks and months to return. One of the simplest ways to forestall an infection is to keep away from being uncovered to the virus. Extra details about variations between flu and COVID-19 is on the market within the totally different sections under.
As a result of a few of the signs of flu and COVID-19 are comparable, it could be onerous to inform the distinction between them based mostly on signs alone, and testing could also be wanted to assist verify a prognosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many traits, however there are some key variations between the 2.
Whereas extra is discovered every single day, there may be nonetheless quite a bit that’s unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. This web page compares COVID-19 and flu, given the most effective obtainable info to this point.
