Zhang Lei*, Yang Feng and WuYanli
Both seasonal influenza viruses (including influenza A and B viruses) and COVID-19 are infectious viruses that cause respiratory illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), typical flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and sometimes even vomiting and diarrhea [1]. Flu symptoms usually appear suddenly.Most people who get the flu recover within two weeks. But in some people, the flu can cause complications, such as pneumonia. So far this flu season, about 1 percent of Americans have developed symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization, similar to the previous season's incidence.
For COVID-19, the 38th WHO regulatory update on COVID-19 mentions that more than 220 million confirmed cases and 4.5 million deaths of COVID-19 have been reported to WHO globally. The situation varies from region to region. Some regions and countries continue to see dramatic increases in the number of cases and deaths, while others are declining.
Vaccinations, physical proximity, hand washing, avoiding crowded and enclosed spaces, and wearing masks are all "anti-blockade measures": they can prevent the spread of disease without having to shut down large parts of society.
The WHO has said it is important to note that it is difficult to distinguish between different respiratory viruses based on symptoms alone because respiratory viruses can cause similar symptoms. However, the treatment options for COVID-19 and influenza viruses are very different. To differentiate and facilitate follow-up treatment to treat the symptoms, the rapid antigen test product can be used to obtain a relatively accurate result in a few minutes with a simple operation that can be used for initial screening purposes. This report evaluated the performance of the AllTest SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A+B Antigen Combo Rapid Test (Nasal Swab) and discuss the importance of differentiating COVID-19 from influenza.
KeywordsInfluenza; SARS-Cov-2; Antigen Test; Nasal Swab
Published Date: 2022-12-28; Received Date: 2022-11-30
