The World Health Organization has released a report outlining the differences between the flu and coronavirus.There are some obvious similarities: they both spread by contact, and many of the symptoms (fevers, tiredness and coughing) are similar.
However, here’s how they differ:
—Coronavirus still appears to spread more slowly than the flu: about six days between successive cases versus three for flu (although coronavirus may still infect more people overall).
— Shedding: Viral shedding is what happens when a virus has infected a host, has reproduced, and is now being released into the environment. It is what makes a patient infectious. Research suggests people with coronavirus remain contagious for much longer than those with flu.
— Secondary infections. As if contracting coronavirus wasn’t bad enough, it leads to about two more secondary infections on average than flu.
— Adults are passing coronavirus around, not kids. And we don’t currently know why kids seem to be protected from the worst effects.
— Coronavirus is deadlier than the flu. Thus far, the mortality rate for coronavirus (the number of reported cases divided by the number of deaths) is around 3% to 4%, although it’s likely to be lower because many cases have not yet been reported. The flu’s rate is 0.1%.
— There is no cure or vaccine for the coronavirus. Not yet, anyway, although work is under way. There is, however, a flu vaccine—and everyone should get it, not least because being vaccinated could help lessen the impact on overstretched medical services.
—Tanya Basu
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