COVID and influenza or flu are both infectious respiratory diseases. Though these are caused by different viruses, their symptoms are similar because both of these diseases originate in the same place: the respiratory tract.
COVID is caused by the coronavirus and flu is caused by 4 types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D.
Hence, without proper testing it is impossible to find if a person is COVID infected or is having the flu.
This explains the need of being vaccinated against both these diseases.
Cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache and fatigue are the common symptoms seen in both these infections.
Both COVID and flu spread through air droplets of an infected person’s cough, sneeze, and breath after they land on another person’s nose, eyes or mouth who are nearby — typically within 1 metre.
As per reports, people can also get COVID and flu by touching contaminated surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth with the same contaminated hand without cleaning it.
Just like COVID, the degree of flu illness can vary from person to person. Some may have no symptoms, mild symptoms or severe disease. Both influenza and COVID-19 can be fatal.
