The key health differences: An infographic on COVID-19 versus the flu

BY CAMILA FERNANDEZ AND SOFIE KAHLIG

In the early stages of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, tens of thousands of Americans were under the impression that the virus was comparable with that of influenza, the seasonal flu, and no more harmful. A National Public Radio (NPR) poll from March 2020 reveals that only 56% of Americans even considered the pandemic a real threat. The confusion between the two stems from the many similarities in symptoms and their common classification as respiratory illnesses. However, there are specific distinctions between the two that can help one differentiate between the flu and the coronavirus.

Being respiratory illnesses means that both the flu and the coronavirus spread from the transmission of droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking. This means that if one follows the guidelines recommended for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including precautions like wearing a mask and socially distancing, people can stay secure from both.

Influenza and the coronavirus may share major characteristics that inevitably push people to confuse the two, but the two major differences to highlight are: the levels of danger and treatment.

Influenza and the coronavirus may share major characteristics that inevitably push people to confuse the two, but the two major differences to highlight are: the levels of danger and treatment.

COVID-19 and the flu both manifest themselves in the body through fever, coughing and muscle pain. However, COVID-19 symptoms are typically much more severe. Unlike the flu, it can cause shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. The loss of taste and smell is also a unique and key indicator of COVID-19.

COVID-19 symptoms develop 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, and many people can be asymptomatic and have the virus without showing any significant symptoms. If you do show symptoms, they typically develop subtly. The flu goes a different route, with symptoms developing suddenly and within the first four days of illness contraction. A majority of people who are infected with the flu recover within days, whereas further complications are typically associated with COVID-19. 

On average, coronavirus is much more dangerous than the flu, with more deaths resulting from COVID these past eight months in 2020 than the past five yearly flu seasons combined. This is due to its more contagious and unfamiliar nature. While influenza infects 1.28 people on average, COVID-19 infects an average of 2 to 3 people. When the infections start to multiply, the differences are alarming. The role of asymptomatic cases also comes into play, with as many as 25 to 80% of infected people being unaware that they have COVID and thus more likely to unknowingly spread it to others.

On average, coronavirus is much more dangerous than the flu, with more deaths resulting from COVID these past eight months in 2020 than the past five yearly flu seasons combined.

Of course, being a new illness, there is still much to learn about the coronavirus. As of yet, there is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved antiviral drug for COVID like there is for the flu. While hospitals do have guidance on how to treat it, new evidence is still coming out and adding to the unknown world of COVID-19.

A more notable difference between the two is the opportunity of preventative treatment. A vaccine for COVID-19 is currently in the works, but nothing concerning its reliability, side effects or cost is official yet. On the other hand, flu vaccines are widely accessible and prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations yearly. The shots are quick and reliable, and take an average of two weeks to develop antibodies and protect you. Some stores such as Walgreens, CVS and Target even offer free yearly flu shots.

As the 2020 calendar approaches winter and the year anniversary of COVID-19’s first case, flu season is starting to come into swing as well. Society will soon need to be prepared to contend with both illnesses. Although the symptoms may overlap, COVID-19 is distinguished from influenza with its higher severity and loss of taste and smell. Responsible preventative measures such as getting your yearly flu shot and wearing a mask can go a long way to prevent contracting either illness.

Infographic by Sofie Kahlig