Flu cases grew more than 1300% in the capital São Paulo, when comparing data from December with the month of November, according to a survey by CNN Agency. in interview to CNN, the infectologist from Beneficência Portuguesa, Lina Paola, stated that one of the reasons for this increase is the lack of vaccination of the population against influenza.
“What led to the ‘boom’ was the lack of vaccination [contra a gripe], because we focused a lot on vaccination against Covid-19 and, because we were confined for a long time, patients did not go to health centers and hospitals to receive the vaccine”, said the doctor.
Paola cited other factors that contributed to the increase in cases, such as the occurrence of a new mutation in Australia — which is already circulating in São Paulo —, the cold climate and the flexibility in the use of masks at a time when “there is a lot of meetings family”.
The infectologist also explained how people can differentiate flu symptoms from coronavirus symptoms.
“It is very difficult to identify, but influenza has a very high temperature right from the start, from 37° to 40°, with symptoms of runny nose, headache,” he said.
“Covid, on the other hand, has a series of symptoms that can be different, from skin involvement, conjunctivitis and others. In addition, it may be that the shortness of breath does not appear right away, only about 7 to 13 days later, later than the flu,” he added.
Paola stated that influenza “is more acute” and the presentation of fever in the patient is more intense than that evidenced in those infected with Covid.
Reference: CNN Brasil
