In the UK, the period of seasonal influenza is generally from December to March and a range of vulnerable people (the elderly and people with respiratory problems) are offered an annual vaccination against this rapidly-changing virus. This is quite an undertaking at the best of times but is likely to prove more difficult this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So, what is likely to happen when these two coronaviruses are simultaneously infecting people? Both viruses infect the respiratory tract by binding to cells lining the tract but sars-cov-2 (the agent responsible for Covid-19) has a much greater probability of spreading to the circulatory and neural systems, where it may cause life-challenging changes. Both infections can be passed on (by a mixture of aerosol transmission and coughing on to surfaces) for at least a day before the patient develops symptoms. Seasonal 'flu is seasonal because winter conditions force people indoors where transmission is easier.The two infections also share some (but not all) symptoms. I believe it's going to be especially difficult, when most people are only'seen' by their GP at the end of a telephone, for accurate diagnosis. People may well be panicked, when they get seasonal 'flu, in to believing that they have the more dangerous infection. I also think that some vulnerable groups will be difficult to reach for their annual seasonal 'flu protection (especially when groups are spreading rumours about the safety of vaccinations in general). This winter could be extremely challenging for all concerned. Just be grateful that we don't seem to have a pandemic influenza outbreak on the horizon!
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