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'Flurona': COVID, flu co-infections not unusual, expert says

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Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (green) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal Olfactory Epithelial Cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Photo by NIAID" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/11/29/covid-generic.jpg"/><figcaption>Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (green) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal Olfactory Epithelial Cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. <em>Photo by NIAID</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A co-infection with the influenza virus and coronavirus is not unusual, a health specialist said Monday, after Israel reported its first case of the &quot;flurona&quot; infection in a pregnant woman.</p><p>“It’s an unfortunate confluence of events na na-expose ka sa dalawang pathogens, and of course, may kinalaman doon if you have co-morbid conditions,” Department of Health technical advisory group member Dr. Edsel Salvana told reporters.</p><p>Salvana said the Philippines has already seen a case where a patient was infected with both viruses.</p><p>“Our very first COVID death in the Philippines back in [February] 2020, a Chinese national, had both influenza B and coronavirus. And he also had streptococcus pneumonia,&quot; he noted.</p><p>The first coronavirus-related fatality in the country was also the first death recorded outside China, where the respiratory disease first emerged.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/02/20/ph-records-first-death-due-to-new-coronavirus">First novel coronavirus death outside China recorded in PH - WHO official</a></li></ul><p>Salvana reminded the public to get vaccinated for flu and pneumonia to obtain maximum protection from severe disease and death from the illness caused by the pathogens.</p><p>Authorities had eyed fully inoculating 54 million people by the end of 2021. As of Jan. 2, some 49.8 million of the Philippines&#x27; 109 million people were fully vaccinated, according to data from the health department. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1883087" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

An infection by the influenza virus and coronavirus is not unusual, a health expert said.

'Flurona': COVID, flu co-infections not unusual, expert says

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'Flurona': COVID, flu co-infections not unusual, expert says

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 03, 2022 06:43 PM PHT

|

Updated January 04, 2022 12:44 PM PHT

Read More:

influenza

coronavirus

COVID

flurona

Israel

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