- Florona is a combination of flu and Coronavirus and double infection of the COVID-19.
- When the viruses of both flu and Coronavirus are present in a body at the same time, it is regarded as Florona disease.
- Israel’s national health providers began administering fourth vaccine shots against COVID-19
Amid the lingering fear of the third wave of coronavirus due to the rising cases of Omicron variant across the globe, Israel has reported its first case of the florona.
Florona is a rare mixture of two diseases caused by concurrent coronavirus and flu infection was diagnosed in a woman who recently gave birth in a hospital in Petah Tikva city, in central Israel. As per the initial reports, the young woman was unvaccinated against COVID-19. Her symptoms were relatively mild, and she is expected to be discharged soon
Is florona a new COVID variant?
Unlike Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron, and others, florona is not a mutant variant of coronavirus. It is a case of double respiratory infection caused by COVID-19 and influenza pathogens. When the viruses of these two infections are present at the same time in the body, the condition is referred to as florona.
Booster
Israel’s national health providers began administering fourth vaccine shots against COVID-19 on Friday last week to individuals with compromised immune systems. The Health Ministry’s Director-General Nachman Ash okayed the boosters for immuno-suppressed people due to the Omicron infection wave, so long as at least four months have passed since their third shot, Time of Israel reported.
On Friday morning Ash also approved vaccines for elderly patients at geriatric facilities. The ministry said this was done “due to concerns of outbreaks at such facilities, and the risk to the health and lives of residents,” the publication said.
What are the symptoms of florona?
Both influenza and flu cause infection in the respiratory system leading to more or less the same symptoms. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) an individual can suffer from both the infections at the same time and share identical symptoms like sore throat, loss of taste and smell, cough, runny nose, loss of appetite, fever, Shortness of breath, headaches, and fatigue. The severity of the condition depends from person to person. Some may have mild symptoms, while others may experience severe signs. But both conditions can be fatal if not treated on time. In COVID a person may experience loss of taste and smell, which is not associated with flu. Even the post-infection complications witnessed in the case of COVID are missing when infected by the influenza virus.
How they spread
Being the disease of the upper respiratory system, both flu and COVID are transmitted through aerosol particles contaminated with the virus released by an infected person while coughing, speaking, or sneezing. When a healthy person breathes the air or touches the surface contaminated with the virus, the pathogens enter the respiratory system where it starts multiplying. It usually takes 2 to 10 days for the symptoms to appear after being infected with the virus. Also, the risk of spreading the virus to others is greater during the initial days.
How can we protect ourselves from this new disease?
According to the World Health Organization, we should continue to follow prevention measures, such as maintaining at least a one metre distance from others, wearing a well-fitted mask when keeping your distance is not possible, avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated places and settings, opening windows and doors to keep rooms well ventilated and cleaning your hands frequently.
