It Is Impossible to Distinguish Flu from COVID-19 Without a Test, Says Epidemiologist

The Deputy Director for Clinical-Analytical Work at the Central Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor in Russia, Natalia Pshenychnaya, stated that it is impossible to differentiate regular flu from COVID-19 without a test. Furthermore, the professor explained the differences between the 'H1N1' strain circulating over the last decade and this year's flu variants. She also provided a forecast regarding the situation with 'Omicron' and flu in Russia.

When asked whether there is a battle between flu and the 'Omicron' virus among respiratory viruses, and if symptoms can distinguish flu from COVID-19 at this stage of the pandemic, the epidemiologist replied: 'It is impossible to distinguish flu from COVID-19 without a test. The symptoms are the same: a temperature of 38 degrees, headache, dry cough, pronounced general weakness, muscle pain, and joint pain. However, overall, there have never been clear criteria for reliably conducting differential diagnosis between flu or other acute respiratory viral infections and COVID-19,' said Pshenychnaya.