Australia detected a flu outbreak with a similar set of symptoms to Covid-19 such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue…, but infected people did not lose taste and smell.
The virus, known as the “super flu”, first emerged in the UK in November 2021, is now raging in Australia’s major cities. The patients exhibited symptoms similar to those of nCoV infection but all tested negative.
The most common symptoms include sore throat, headache, body aches, runny nose, and fatigue. Symptoms sometimes last for weeks, with an average of 10 to 14 days. People with “super cold” viruses usually don’t lose their sense of taste or smell. This is the only difference with Covid-19.
Currently, Australia’s immunity levels are low, thousands of people have taken to the streets after nearly two years of separation to come back to life, creating the conditions for emerging pathogens to emerge. According to experts, the “super cold” virus is spreading just as violently as Covid-19.
A severe case of flu in the UK was reported late last year, also during the country’s reopening. Experts had previously predicted an increase in the number of respiratory infections in general, and flu cases were no exception to this trend.
Scientists believe that prolonged blockade, without general exposure to the virus, makes the respiratory system accustomed to this more vulnerable when it returns to normal life. In addition, many tourists who enter Australia also carry strange pathogens.
Australians are dealing with a super cold virus after a period of isolation due to Covid-19. Photo: A B C
Dr Ian Mackay, a virologist from the University of Queensland, said Covid-19 had changed the traditional notion that respiratory pathogens only appear in cold weather. Colds in Australia have spiked recently, despite the warming weather.
“Obviously it doesn’t appear seasonal anymore, but it appears based on the level of community immunity. When immunity is low, the virus can run rampant at any time,” he said.
Some experts even worry that this year’s flu outbreak could cause more deaths than Covid-19. Epidemiologist Catherine Bennett warned: “Our immunity to flu is lower because we have missed two flu seasons. This winter, the death toll from Covid-19 may be lower, because now it’s the flu that hits vulnerable people.”
Thu Linh (Based on New Zealand Herald Daily Mail)
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