The New York Times Can You Get the Flu and COVID at the Same Time Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 24 January 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles The New York Times Can You Get the Flu and COVID at the Same Time The same measures that protect against COVID-19-masking, social distancing and, especially, vaccination-can protect against influenza and flurona, say Cedars-Sinai experts. Photo by Getty Images. The New York Times and Health Day recently spoke with Cedars-Sinai infectious disease specialists Soniya Gandhi, MD, and Jonathan Grein, MD, about "flurona," a term coined to describe simultaneous infection with the viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19. While these co-infections have occurred occasionally throughout the pandemic, they have recently been making headlines. In early January, Israel confirmed its first case of flurona, and news of a growing number of cases in children in the U.S. began to spread, The New York Times reported. Grein, director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai, said that flurona hasn’t been a challenge yet because there hasn’t been much influenza virus circulating throughout the U.S. "We anticipate that as flu becomes more prevalent, we will see more co-infections," he told The New York Times. Gandhi, who is vice president of Medical Affairs and associate chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai, told HealthDay that being infected with two potentially fatal respiratory illnesses isn’t ideal. "You can imagine if your immune system is trying to fight off two serious infections, that’s going to be taxing," she said. But Gandhi, Grein and other experts stressed that the same measures everyone has been using to protect against COVID-19—masking, social distancing and, especially, vaccination—can protect against influenza and flurona. A co-infection wouldn’t necessarily make someone twice as sick, and it actually could provoke a strong reaction from the body's immune system, Grein told The Times. "It’s activating that same immune response that’s going to be effective in fighting both," said Grein. Click here to read the complete articles from The New York Times and HealthDay. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release The New York Times Can You Get the Flu and COVID at the Same Time Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home