Currently, there are many clinical trials on coronavirus being held in different countries around the world, most of which have even entered Phase III or the final phase and reported positive results. Therefore, people are now looking forward to the launch of the coronavirus vaccine in the upcoming months as it will not only provide immunity to people but also help in ending the pandemic as soon as possible.
However, as trials are giving new hope to medical experts and the common people, it should not be forgotten that there are also many challenges that are also likely to begin in a few weeks. In fact, for some countries, they may have already started including the US, where a new case of a man with both influenza and coronavirus has been reported.
The change in weather and the beginning of colder season paves the way for multiple difficulties for countries and their healthcare systems, which have already been strained by the impact of a high number of coronavirus infection cases and their management.
Read also: Why are Clinical Trials for Coronavirus Excluding Older Adults?
For instance, a rise in the number of flu or influenza cases is expected in the upcoming weeks along with other infections as many people, specifically children, have not been vaccinated this year. Hence, there will be outbreaks of many pathogens, many of which will require visits to a doctor or hospitalization.
These, in a combination with a high prevalence of the coronavirus infection, can make it extremely difficult to manage all patients at once. Currently, cases of coronavirus are rising all over the world. In the US, some counties are even reporting an increase of over one hundred percent.
Along with the increased load on hospitals and the healthcare system, another big concern is the similarity in symptoms, particularly the signs of coronavirus infection, influenza, and the common cold.
The current reports show that most of the people, especially young adults between the ages of eighteen to thirty are not following recommended preventive measures for coronavirus such as avoiding crowded spaces, maintaining distance, wearing a mask, and staying indoors.
Since the signs of the aforementioned infections are similar, many people may get confused and not follow guidelines thinking they may only have flu and not coronavirus, which can spread the virus further easily.
Similarly, a person may also have both flu and coronavirus at the same time, as it was recently seen in the new case of a man from California. Prior to this new case, there have been a number of other cases where people have been diagnosed with both viruses.
However, it is not yet clear whether a combination of both of the viruses can cause a severe form of infection together or an increased number of associated complications.
Also, co-infection has been rare up till now and not a lot of research has been conducted on it but experts state that the condition can negatively impact the health of older adults over the age of sixty-five if not young adults. To combat both of these infections, it is recommended that people follow guidelines for prevention.