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First 'Flurona' cases detected in the US, Netizens ask 'why is it a thing'

Health experts indicate an increased number of co-infections, especially in children whose immune systems haven't yet been exposed to common illnesses

Two cases of simultaneous flu and Covid-19 infection aka Flurona have been detected in the United States. The first case was discovered at Texas Children's Hospital after a test confirmed that the child was infected with both influenza A and SARS-CoV-2. The second one was discovered in California on New Year's Day at a mobile testing center, the patient is a child from Mexico, visiting the US on family vacation. 

The positive Flurona cases are being seen in the United States just after the first case of the double infection was found in a pregnant woman in Israel. She was suffering mild symptoms and health officials are still studying her case to determine the causes for the occurrence of the new variant after Omicron. 

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As of now, it is not yet clear if either children has received their Covid/flu shots or not. Also, health experts indicate an increased co-infections, especially in children as their immune systems haven't yet been exposed to common illnesses. Currently, the children infected with the new variant in Texas and California are not hospitalized and are said to be recovering at home. 

Texas Children's Hospital was the first in the US to confirm the co-infection (patients getting infected with other respiratory viruses apart from coronavirus). "This is one confirmed case and of course, we will be working with our colleagues across the country to see if there are more cases and whether we will see a distinct pattern in these cases," said Dr Jim Versalovic, pathologist-in-chef and Covid command center co-leader. 

Steve Farzam, whose testing facility diagnosed the California case, said the Mexican child's symptoms were 'very mild' and could have been 'easily confused with sinusitis'. Talking about the new variant, Dr Frank Esper, a physician said, "I expect to see plenty of co-infections going forward, but I don't see anything that suggests it makes Covid infections worse. Those are two viral pathogens that we actually have medicines for."

Meanwhile netizens had mixed opinions about the new variant that was reported in the United States. One twitter user wrote, "Boy, yes you boy, what variant are we going into 2022 with, Omicron?". The same user answered it, "No No No sir, it's now Flurona." Not everybody agreed on the existence of the new variant. One person wrote, "The news is insane. Flurona isn't a new thing. It's just the flu and corona. You can also get diaboredom which is where you have diabetes and boredom."

A twitter user wrote, "I don't know why people are so surprised that people are now getting Covid and the Flu at the same time "Flurona". You've always been able to catch more than one virus at once. That's why it's so important to get vaccinated for both while another user confirmed our deepest fear by writing, "Flurona.. LOL! We're about 3 steps away from every headline being just, "YOU'RE GONNA DIE!!!". 

One twitter user expressed surprise and asked "why is flurona a thing?" and further wrote, "Before people flip thinking there is a newly mutated virus, it's just someone positive for Covid and Flu. Kids have been dual testing positive with SARS-CoV-2 and RSV since the summer so it's no surprise we are seeing Covid/Flu."