10TV: What is "Flurona?"

As flu season reaches its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge.  And this year, it's leading to a new term floating around: flurona.  It's when you contract both the flu and COVID at the same time.  The first case was found in Israel in a woman who was not vaccinated.  A case has also been reported in a child in California.

However, Joe Gastaldo, MD, system medical director of infectious diseases told 10TV that flurona is no cause for panic.

“This is not a new virus, it's not a mutated virus.  It's a term we use for someone who has bad luck and gets infected by two different viruses,” Dr. Gastaldo told 10TV.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, flu cases are up 20 times more than last flu season, when more people were wearing masks in public.  Hospitalizations from the flu have also increased over last year.

“Historically, we don't see a lot of flu hospitalizations until mid-late January.  So we'll have to see what that looks like coming up,” Dr. Gastaldo told 10TV.  Dr. Gastaldo says the best way to prevent hospitalization from  COVID and the flu is to receive vaccinations for both. 

To learn more about OhioHealth's COVID vaccine locations, click here. 

To find a primary care physician, click here.

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