There's a lot that scientists don't know about how viral infections can interact. But researchers are eager to figure out how coronavirus infections might affect flu infections and vice versa.
This negative-stained transmission electron micrograph depicts the ultrastructural details of an influenza virus particle, or virion.This negative-stained transmission electron micrograph depicts the ultrastructural details of an influenza virus particle, or virion., it's still unclear exactly how influenza virus will interact with the coronavirus if a person has both viruses.
Doctors around the world have seen some patients who tested positive for both influenza virus and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. At least a couple of dozen cases have been— although that's not a lot, given that over 26 million people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Still,"it is quite possible and likely that the two viruses could infect a patient at the same time or, for that matter, sequentially: one month, one virus, and the next month, the other virus," saysBoth viruses can cause dangerous inflammation in the lungs that can fill the airspaces with fluid, making it difficult to breathe, he notes.
"It's likely with both viruses at the same time, the severity of respiratory failure would be greater," says Matthay."Or, of course, having two illnesses in a row that affected the lungs would make the respiratory failure more severe."Generally speaking, co-infections are common when it comes to respiratory diseases.
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