Infectionist Malinnikova: influenza can have the same negative consequences as COVID-19
Flu can have the same severe the same negative consequences as COVID-19, especially for people who have had coronavirus. Elena Malinnikova, head of the Department of Virology of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, told TASS about this.
According to her, the flu has always been considered by infectious disease doctors as a disease that is quite difficult to tolerate. “The flu is difficult in people with various chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, a hundred times more severe in people with chronic diseases of the pulmonary system,” – explained Malinnikova.
The specialist also stressed that the possibility of infection cannot be ruled out immediately and flu and coronavirus. She said that if a person had been ill with COVID-19 and had some residual symptoms, then in case of influenza, a combination of two infections can lead to very bad consequences.
In addition, the expert added that in the present the situation of influenza vaccination is no less urgent than vaccination against coronavirus.
Earlier, Malinnikova said that long-term COVID-19 should be considered a chronic disease due to the fact that the virus has been circulating in the human body for a long time. The virologist noted that there are cases when the virus persists for more than 12 months, and compared it with herpes, which can behave in a similar way.