What are the four major differences between COVID-19 and seasonal flu? What are the differences between COVID-19 and seasonal flu?

Now, as the research on COVID-19 deepens, more and more people have discovered that this new virus is particularly "cunning", very contagious, and its early symptoms can be easily confused with diseases such as colds. At present, the World Health Organization explained at a press conference that there are still four major differences between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. What are the specific differences?

What are the 4 major differences between COVID-19 and seasonal flu?

According to what World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a regular press conference on the 3rd, the WHO has found four important differences between the new coronavirus pneumonia and seasonal influenza.

First, existing data show that the transmission efficiency of the new coronavirus is lower than that of seasonal influenza.

Second, the disease caused by the new coronavirus is more severe than seasonal influenza.

Third, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for the new coronavirus.

Fourth, influenza cannot be controlled, but the new coronavirus epidemic can be controlled.

What is the difference between COVID-19 and seasonal flu?

First, the transmission efficiency is different. Asymptomatic infections are the main spreaders of influenza viruses, but this is not the case with the new coronavirus. "Evidence from China shows that only about 1% of confirmed cases are asymptomatic, and most of these cases will develop symptoms within two days."

Second, the new coronavirus is more serious. The current global mortality rate caused by COVID-19 is about 3.4%, while the mortality rate of seasonal influenza is usually much lower than 1%. In addition, many people around the world are already immune to seasonal influenza virus strains, but the new coronavirus is different.

Third, there is no specific COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, there are more than 20 vaccines against COVID-19 under development.

Fourth, the new coronavirus epidemic can be controlled, but influenza cannot.

Is there a clear difference between COVID-19 and influenza?

1. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and fatigue. The chances of nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose, etc. are low. The main symptoms of influenza are nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, etc.

2. The fever of novel coronavirus pneumonia is generally 37 or 38 degrees, rarely high fever. Influenza is mostly high fever, most patients have a fever of 39 or 40 degrees.

3. Different incubation periods: The incubation period of influenza is generally 1-3 days, that of COVID-19 is generally 7 days, and the longest is 7-14 days.

4. Different blood pictures: Influenza blood pictures show an increase in lymphocytes, while pneumonia infected with the new coronavirus shows a decrease in lymphocytes. Whether it is influenza or COVID-19, those who get sick are those with low immunity or those who do not know how to protect themselves.

Related News

According to Japanese media reports, Niigata Prefecture added 5 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the 3rd local time, and these 5 cases were collectively infected. The 5 cases have been confirmed to be from the same table tennis school, where they had trained on February 20. According to reports, in addition to the infected person, there are 28 people in the table tennis school who are close contacts.