Early into the new year, the new term “flurona” has been gaining in popularity and usage. As you can probably guess, the term refers to both the flu and COVID. It came to be when two young pregnant women in Israel tested positive not only for COVID, but also for the flu.

These days, it’s hard to keep track of the latest pandemic updates, with doctors urging us to get vaccinated, whether for COVID, the flu, or both. However, flu cases have been on the rise along with the new, highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID. Hospitals are overwhelmed treating people for one or both of the viruses.

In fact, it has even been identified that the first COVID-related death outside of China, in early 2020, may have been a “flurona” victim. That patient tested positive for the original strand of COVID-19, influenza B, and streptococcus pneumonia. That person exhibited “a fever, cough, and chills” according to The Washington Post.

“It’s an unfortunate confluence of events that you are exposed to two pathogens,” said Edsel Salvana, a health advisory group member of the Philippines national health department, where the patient was treated. Salvana urged people to get vaccinated for the flu.

While you might not have heard the terms “flurona” or “twindemic” before, cases of a patient having both sicknesses aren’t a new happening. People have been getting them all over the world, from the US to Hungary. Although symptoms are only that of a cold, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be watching out. Doctors worry about the possibly disastrous consequences a “twindemic” can have on society. Imagine the economy being set back and school shutting down again— this is just some of what could possibly happen if we had to go back to 2020 days.

The way to watch out for COVID and the flu are the same as always. Wash your hands, wear a mask, social distance, and get vaccinated if you’re able. We may be new to “flurona,” but we can keep such a thing as a “twindemic” at bay if we just follow the necessary precautious. Stay safe and healthy ILS.

For more information on the possible “twindemic”, go to this Washington Post article, via Apple News.