For 2023-2024 Season
What is the difference between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19?
From what we know, COVID-19 spreads more easily than the flu. Compared to the flu, COVID-19 can cause more severe illness in some people. Compared to people with flu, people infected with COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms and may be contagious for longer periods. You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by the symptoms alone because they have some of the same signs and symptoms.
Both COVID-19 and flu can have varying degrees of symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/having chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (more frequent in children with flu, but can occur in any age with COVID-19)
- Change in or loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19
Individuals infected with the flu virus can be potentially contagious up to a day before exhibiting symptoms, with the main mode of transmission occurring through symptomatic carriers. Typically, older children and adults with the flu are most contagious during the initial 3-4 days of their illness, although some individuals may remain contagious for a slightly extended duration. Infants and individuals with compromised immune systems can exhibit contagiousness for even more prolonged periods.
Concerning COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), individuals can start spreading the virus 2-3 days prior to the onset of symptoms. The peak of infectiousness generally occurs one day before the manifestation of symptoms. Notably, individuals with COVID-19 can transmit the virus even when they are asymptomatic. Following the onset of symptoms, people with COVID-19 are typically considered contagious for approximately eight days. It’s vital to highlight the significance of adhering to preventive measures, including mask-wearing, practicing rigorous hand hygiene, maintaining physical distance, and following public health guidelines to mitigate the transmission of both the flu and COVID-19.