The UAE has already started flu campaigns and is struggling to keep its citizens safe from Flu amidst covid season. It is imperative to get tested for Flu, and Covid to confirm the infection.
UAE is experiencing climate change, and all are puzzled because this winter is a season of Flu and coronavirus.
COVID cases had reduced to 95% from August 2021, with less than 100 COVID cases reported in the past 24 hours, an effective vaccination program and frequent COVID tests of its citizens.
ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG RANKINGS, the UAE has climbed up three positions in the COVID resilient rankings from 9 to 6. Travel restrictions are relaxed, and the country has started hosting a lot of events.
Even though the UAE has proved itself to be a post-COVID haven, people are afraid of seasonal flu cases this winter.
Unlike previous years, this flu season is a little alarming as the flu doctors suspect a potential Twindemic this winter.
Keeping this in mind, MOHAP, the ministry of health and prevention, came up with a National Seasonal Flu Awareness campaign 2021.
COVID symptoms are almost similar to seasonal Flu, and it is nearly impossible to differentiate between COVID and flu symptoms. Sometimes this confusion has led to delay in identifying real COVID cases.
Even though two different viruses cause these diseases, they spread rapidly and cause breathing disorders.
What makes it confusing is the manner of infection. Since almost all are vaccinated, the disease severity has reduced.
Dr Fernandes Bornilla – Doctor at Cleveland hospital, Abu Dhabi, said that since it is difficult to differentiate these two infections,
a PCR test may be adequate to give an instantaneous result. He recommends patients get tested for both viruses as they will fetch effective results.
The executive director of the infection diseases sector at Abu Dhabi Public health center, Dr Farida Al Hosani,
said that infected patients must first test themselves for COVID. If the tests are negative, they should go for the influenza virus test.
Patients can be asymptomatic to show severe symptoms for Covid and Flu. Common symptoms of both the illness are:
- a) Fever sometimes with or without chills.
- b) Dry cough.
- c) severe body pain.
- d) Extreme tiredness.
- e) Runny or blocked nose.
- f) Vomiting or purging.
Differences between Flu and Covid
Flu lasts two days to two weeks. In rare situations, patients will be hospitalized. Most of the patients are at risk of a secondary infection of diarrhoea because of flu infection.
Prolonged Covid illness can cause a clot in arteries and veins, resulting in cardiac arrest or immediate death of the patient.
A multisystem inflammatory syndrome is another symptom that decides the vitality of the virus infection.
The most evident sign of Covid is loss of taste and smell that lasts for a long time, sends a clear message that is less frequent in the case of Flu or common cold.
If your fever doesn’t break after three days, rush immediately to the nearby clinic to get Covid treatment.
Prolonged and severe chest congestion coupled with increasing chest pain should be treated immediately, and neglecting these symptoms will lead to loss of life.
Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, the assistant undersecretary to MoHAP, said that we should not ignore the severity of Flu infection as 2,50,000 to 5,00,000 dies across the globe due to influenza virus.
The country has started a National Seasonal Flu awareness campaign under the slogan ” Protect yourself, protect your community.” Flu vaccines are available throughout the country now.
