The first three cases of flurona or simultaneous infection by COVID-19 and influenza, have been detected in the region of Amazonas, of whom an unvaccinated person has died, said Cesar Munayco, General Director of Public Health Surveillance at the
Ministry of Health (Minsa).
According to the specialist, the three cases were detected in Bagua province. Two out of the three people with flurona, including a child and a 40-year-old who were vaccinated, have only required outpatient medical care.
However, the 87-year-old person, who was not vaccinated and had comorbidities, unfortunately passed away.
Munayco urged the population to be vaccinated not only against COVID-19, but also against influenza once a year.
He reported that there is an outbreak of H3N2 influenza in the rainforest regions of Loreto, San Martin, Amazonas and Ucayali, so being immunized against COVID-19, as well as influenza and pneumococcus, is key.
Flurona
Given the changes in temperature in the city of Lima, many people are falling ill with a very acute cold, which experts do not rule out could be new cases of 'flurona' —a co-infection by two respiratory viruses at the same time, something that is already happening in other parts of the world.
"The first case reported was that of an Israeli pregnant woman who had both conditions, but it did not become a severe case," she added.
(END) LZD/RMB/MVB
Published: 1/6/2022