under the microscope
By Rodney E . Rohde , PhD , MS , SM ( ASCP ) CM SVCM , MBCM , FACSc
What About Flu During the COVID-19 Pandemic ?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published
Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines : Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States , 2020-2021 Influenza Season . This report updates the 2019 – 20 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP ) regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines in the United States ( MMWR Recomm Rep 2019 ; 68 [ No . RR-3 ]). Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications .
Why is it so important to receive the flu vaccine during the ongoing pandemic ? For starters , global efforts to lower the transmission of SARS-CoV2 which is
It is vital that everyone get their routine vaccinations during the
COVID-19 pandemic to protect people and communities from vaccinepreventable diseases and outbreaks , including flu .” responsible for the COVID-19 illness , such as reduced travel , staying home , telecommuting for work and online education , have led to a reduction in the number of people taking advantage of routine physician visits for a number of services , including getting one ’ s vaccines up to date . Overall , healthcare is already under dangerous workloads and shortages in both healthcare professionals and healthcare PPE , as well as other essential medical items due to the pandemic . It is vital that everyone get their routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect people and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks , including flu .
We can never perfectly predict how bad an upcoming flu season will be for a particular year . It is always critical to prepare for the upcoming flu season since we know that it can lead to high morbidity and mortality for certain populations . It will be even more important this year to reduce flu because it can help reduce the overall impact of respiratory illnesses on the population and thus lessen the resulting burden on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic . A flu vaccine may also provide several individual health benefits , including preventing one from getting flu , lowering the severity of a flu illness and reducing one ’ s chances of having to go to the hospital .
Influenza ( flu ) is an RNA virus that is notorious , and some might say diabolical , in its ability to mutate from year to year . RNA viruses ( like SARS-CoV2 ) are unfortunately very smart and mischievous in this aspect . Flu , like SARS , also has the ability to live as a zoonotic agent . The flu virus has long been an inhabitant of swine , fowl , and humans , which continually
allow for antigenic drift ( small changes in the virus genome ) and shift ( major changes in the virus genome ). It is a contagious respiratory illness , which can cause mild to severe illness resulting in hospitalization or death . Some people , such as older people , young children , and people with certain health conditions , are at high risk of serious flu complications . There are two main types of influenza ( flu ) virus : Types A and B . A third , Type C , is not clinically relevant to humans . The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people ( human influenza viruses ) are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year . Here , I will focus on the types of influenza of medical and clinical importance aimed at a general understanding of the characteristics of this pathogen in the environment . Primarily , I will utilize information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) along with professional experience .
How does transmission occur with influenza ? Flu viruses typically circulate in the United States each year , most commonly from the late fall through the early spring . Flu viruses spread mainly by tiny respiratory droplets made when people with flu cough , sneeze or talk . Respiratory droplets can move through the air to other hosts ( people ) and end up in their eyes , mouth or nose especially when they are nearby to each other . Likewise , flu viruses can be expelled in respiratory droplets and land on surfaces . People might touch these surfaces , and then rub their eyes , nose or mouth with their fingers . This action is known as indirect transmission and is less of a primary transmission route versus person-to-person ( direct transmission ). Thus , being aware of physical distance and high-touch surfaces , as well as hand hygiene are primary preventative measures for influenza much like SARS-CoV-2 .
Could I get flu and COVID-19 at the same time ? Yes . It is possible and “ mixed infections ” do occur with other microbial agents . Experts are still studying how common this might be for flu and COVID-19 . Due to similar symptoms for both agents , it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone .
So , is there a laboratory test that can detect both viruses ? Yes . CDC has developed a test that will check for Type A and B flu , and SARS CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time . This test will be used by U . S . public health laboratories and has been granted EUA by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) to CDC .
Rodney E . Rohde , PhD , MS , SM ( ASCP ) CM SVCM , MBCM , FACSc , serves as chair and professor of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State ; associate director for the Translational Health Research Initiative ; as well as associate dean for research in the College of Health Professions . Follow him on Twitter @ RodneyRohde / @ TXST _ CLS , or on his website : http :// rodneyerohde . wp . txstate . edu /