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In Switzerland, some drastic measures are currently being attempted to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
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The number of infections has risen steadily in the past few days.
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At the university hospital in Lausanne, the first death occurred as a result of a corona infection this week.
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Important difference between Covid-19 and influenza: there are protective vaccinations against the flu.
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When discussing how necessary and effective the current measures against the coronavirus are, the comparison with the recurrent flu is often used. ETH Zurich epidemiologist Marcel Salathé warns against underestimating the Covid 19 epidemic: “It is not easy like the flu. Many cases are critical, »the expert writes on Twitter (BLICK reported). But where are the differences and what are the similarities between the flu and the coronavirus?
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Flu and Covid-19 are respiratory diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides answers to these questions. The form of infectious diseases is similar: Both are respiratory diseases caused by a virus, the course of which can vary greatly – from asymptomatic or mild to very severe, sometimes even fatal.
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Both pathogens are predominantly transmitted via droplets, for example when speaking or coughing, or through direct contact. That is why the same precautionary measures apply to both: good hand hygiene, coughing in the elbows or a handkerchief, avoiding contact with infected people.
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The flu spreads faster
According to the WHO, there are differences in the rate of spread: Influenza has a shorter incubation period between infection and the development of the first symptoms, and the infection in the infection chains occurred more quickly. With Covid-19 this interval is about 5 to 6 days, with influenza at 3 days. This means that influenza can spread faster than Covid-19. In addition, influenza often infects other people even before symptoms develop.
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Another important indicator is the infection rate. According to WHO data, the new coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 is passed on from one infected person to an average of two to two and a half other people – and thus to more than with influenza. Because of the uncertain data situation and various effects influencing the value, a comparison in this aspect is only possible to a limited extent, according to the WHO.
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Children more affected by flu – Covid-19 more often fatal
There are significant differences with regard to children: “Children are significant drivers of the transmission of influenza viruses in the community,” said the WHO. For the Covid 19 pathogen, initial evaluations showed that children are less affected than adults and rarely develop clear symptoms. According to preliminary data, it can also be assumed that children become infected primarily in adults – but adults hardly in children.
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According to previous evaluations, there are more severe to life-threatening courses with Covid-19 than with the flu. According to the WHO, the course in 15 percent of those infected is so difficult that an additional supply of oxygen is necessary.
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Artificial ventilation is required in five percent of those infected. The death rate is probably higher than with the normal seasonal flu wave – exact details can hardly be given at the moment.
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Sticking point: There are drugs against the flu, but not with the coronavirus
Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases or a weakened immune system are considered to be particularly at risk from influenza in severe cases. At Covid-19, children and pregnant women do not belong to the risk groups according to current knowledge.
Also note the difference in the options for treatment and preventive care. “While there are a number of clinical drug trials in China and there are more than 20 vaccines against Covid-19 in development, there are no approved vaccines or therapies for Covid-19,” the WHO said. With influenza, however, there are both protective vaccinations and approved antiviral drugs. (cat / SDA)
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