A WOMAN has caught Covid and influenza at the same time in an incredibly rare mixture dubbed “Flurona”.
The case – which was detected at an Israeli hospital – showed the woman had a presence of both the flu and Covid-19 pathogens.
The young Israeli – who is pregnant and unvaccinated – presented mild symptoms when she was tested at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva.
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Local press are reporting that the Israeli health Ministry is studying the results to work out if the two infections could cause a more serious illness.
Experts in Israel are claiming other patients have already contract the two viruses but have not been diagnosed.
Professor Arnon Vizhnitser director of the hospitals’ Gynecology Department said: “Last year, we did not witness flu cases among pregnant or birthing women.
“Today, we are seeing cases of both coronavirus and the flu that are starting to rear their head.
“We are seeing more and more pregnant women with the flu.
“It is definitely a great challenge dealing with a woman who comes in with a fever at childbirth.
“This is especially when you do not know if it’s coronavirus or the flu, so you refer to them the same.
“Most of the illness is respiratory.”
Prof Vizhnitser said the patient had not experienced any severe or unusual symtpoms.
“She was diagnosed with the flu and coronavirus as soon as she arrived,” he added.
“Both tests came back positive, even after we checked again.
“The disease is the same disease; they’re viral and cause difficulty breathing since both attack the upper respiratory tract.”