SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. — The Solano County Department of Health and Social Services announced the first case of someone testing positive for both the flu and coronavirus. The person infected is under the age of 65, according to a press release.
"With the likelihood of both COVID-19 and seasonal flu activity this winter, contracting either disease may weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to the other disease,” Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County Health Officer, said.
The Solano County Public Health Department is urging everyone over the age of six months old to get their flu shots as soon as possible. The vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, according to health officials.
Because flu symptoms are similar to COVID-19 symptoms, people who feel symptoms may need to get a COVID-19 test, as well as a flu test, requiring them to self-isolate and stay home from work while waiting for results.
“Getting a flu vaccine this year is more important than ever, and flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself, your family, and the community from becoming seriously ill with the flu," Matyas said. "Vaccination not only reduces the risk of catching the flu, it also reduces the chance that you’ll be hospitalized."
Solano health officials also want people to remember that the flu, COVID-19, and the common cold are all different, have different treatments, and are all caused by different viruses. Those susceptible to more serious symptoms and hospitalization due to the flu and coronavirus are similar.
To prevent illness, health officials are recommending people practice good hygiene habits:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Cover your cough and sneezes
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
- Stay home when you are sick and keep your children home when they are sick
- Wear a face covering and maintain at least a six-foot distance from others in public settings
ABC 10 medical expert Dr. Payal Kohli says one of the biggest challenges with the two viruses is that they have overlapping symptoms. Although, she says it will be vital that doctors begin to test for both viruses as we near the flu season, since certain treatment options for a COVID-19 patient can prolong the flu.
“This needs to be the standard of care this season,” Dr. Kohli said.
Even more concerning, Dr. Kohli says, is that the two viruses are believed to work together, bringing on more severe illness. However, the good news is that the same tactics doctors are employing to fight the coronavirus can also be used to fight the flu, Kohli said.
It's important to continue good hygiene practices like washing your hands, wearing a mask, and keep at least six feet of physical distancing from others.
The other upper hand we already have in preventing co-infection of the two viruses is that there is a widely available flu vaccine.
The influenza virus killed an estimated 35,000 people in the United States during the 2018-2019 flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An estimated 35.5 million people became sick from the virus during the same time period.
The flu vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective after being administered. Solano County Public Health officials urge everyone older than six months to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible. Everyone should get a flu vaccine each year, SCDHS said.
Read more from ABC10
Health officials are urging people to get their flu shots now to avoid a possible increase in flu and coronavirus cases at the same time.