Medicosnext
As far as similarities between influenza and COVID-19 are concerned, both have similar presentation, in that they both cause respiratory disease presenting as a wide range of illness, from asymptomatic or mild to severe disease and death. Because both are transmitted by contact, droplets, and fomites, they require the same public health measures like hand hygiene, social distancing, and good respiratory etiquette (coughing into your elbow or into a tissue) to prevent infection.
As far as differences are concerned, influenza has a shorter median incubation period and a shorter serial interval (3 days) than COVID-19 virus (estimated to be 5-6 days). This means that influenza can spread faster than COVID-19. Further, while influenza can transmit even before the appearance of symptoms, at present, this does not appear to be a major driver of COVID-19 virus transmission (although some people have been observed to shed COVID-19 virus 24-48 hours prior to symptom onset). However, the number of secondary infections generated from one infected individual is believed to be higher for COVID-19 virus than for influenza, but unlike influenza, initial data indicates that children are less affected with COVID-19 than adults, with preliminary studies in China suggesting that children are infected from adults, and not the other way around
While the range of symptoms for the two viruses is similar, COVID-19 data suggests that the fractions of severe and critical infection would be higher than for influenza (with.80% of infections being mild or asymptomatic, 15% severe, requiring oxygen, and 5% critical, requiring ventilation). In the case of severe influenza infection, children, pregnant women, elderly, those with co-morbidities, and those who are immune-suppressed are at most risk. For COVID-19, data till date indicates that older age and co-morbidities increase the risk for severe infection, and as compared to seasonal influenza, mortality for COVID-19 appears to be higher. Data so far indicates that the crude mortality ratio (number of reported deaths divided by number of reported cases) is between 3-4%, while the infection mortality rate (number of reported deaths divided by number of reported infections) will be lower. Mortality is usually well below 0.1% for seasonal influenza.
As far as therapeutics is concerned, while antivirals and vaccines are available for influenza, there are currently no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for COVID-19 (although a number of vaccines are in development).
Ref: World Health Organization,
