In the discussion of measures to be taken against the Covid-19-epidemic is often used for the flu, for comparison. The world health organization (WHO) announced now the important similarities and differences.

Similar to the expression of the infectious diseases, therefore, is: are Both of a viral respiratory disease, which can be very different caused from asymptomatic or mild to very difficult, sometimes even deadly.

Q: How are #COVID19 and influenza viruses different?

WHO Situation Report, 6 March 2020 https://t.co/ALKwGrSNK0 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/8MpQq2gtko

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 7, 2020

Both of these pathogens are mainly transmitted via droplets, such as when Talking or coughing or direct contact. Therefore, the same precautions: good hand hygiene, engage in both, in the elbow or a handkerchief cough, contact to Infected avoid.

Major infection rate for Coronavirus

there are differences according to the WHO, the speed of propagation of avian Influenza a have a shorter incubation period between infection and the training of the first symptoms, also the contagions were in the chain of Infection more quickly to each other. At Covid-19 of this interval spent about 5 to 6 days, in the case of Influenza in 3 days. This means that you can spread Influenza more rapidly than Covid-19.

Add to this that in the case of Influenza, often even before the manifestation of symptoms, more people would be infected. At Covid-19 Transfers, for 24 to 48 hours before the onset of symptoms were known, they were, according to the current state of knowledge, unlike the flu rarely, and played for the retransmission is of little importance.

another important indicator is the rate of the Infection. The new Coronavirus, Sars-CoV-2 is given according to the WHO data from an Infected in the middle of two to two and a half more people - and thus more than in the case of Influenza. Because of the uncertainty of the data and various value-influencing effects, a comparison on this aspect but it is only possible to a limited extent, it is called by the WHO.

differences in relation to children

there are Significant differences in relation to children: "children are significant drivers for the spread of influenza virus in the community," says the WHO. For the Covid-19-exciter, the first evaluations showed that children are less affected than adults and rarely significant symptoms develop. Preliminary data, therefore, also assume that children catching the disease, especially in adult - adult but, conversely, hardly in children.

Serious to life-threatening gradients, there are, according to previous evaluations at Covid-19 more common than the flu. According to the WHO, the history is 15 percent of the Infected so heavy that an additional supply of oxygen is necessary. At 5 percent of the Infected artificial respiration is, therefore, necessary. Also, the death rate is probably higher than the normal seasonal flu wave - exact information on this but currently hardly make.

Covid-19: children not in the risk group

particularly of severe cases, the affected risk groups of Influenza, children, Pregnant women, the Elderly and people with chronic diseases or weakened immune systems. At Covid-19 children and Pregnant women according to the current state of knowledge does not stand up to the high-risk groups.

note also the difference in the possibilities for treatment and Prevention. "While there are already a number of clinical Tests of drugs in China, and there are more than 20 vaccines against Covid-19 in development, but so far, there are no approved vaccines or therapies for Covid-19", the WHO. In the case of Influenza, however, there is both a protective vaccinations, as well as approved anti-viral medications.

(lop/sda)

Created: 07.03.2020, 14:56 PM