Renowned doctors show the differences between coronary and seasonal virus

At the time of the new coronavirus pandemic, which causes COVID-19, data on the number of infections and fatalities caused by the seasonal virus has not seldom been distributed.

Infectologists and microbiologists, however, warn that the new coronavirus is more severe than seasonal viruses, precisely because of its rapid spread.

Another characteristic that is distinguishing the new virus from other seasonal viruses is the lack of medicine approved to treat it.

Infectian Sali Ahmeti told Radio Free Europe that COVID-19's ability to spread among contact persons is making the whole situation very difficult, unlike the seasonal virus.

These two clinical viruses have similarities as well as differences. Clinically, they have similarities because they touch respiratory channels, attacking lungs. At times, even seasonal flu sends patients into oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation. The age that the new coronavrus affects mostly are people over 50, Ahmeti said, adding that the seasonal virus does not recognise age.

In contrast, in January of this year, according to the National Institute of Public Health, there have been 16,000 recorded cases of seasonal flu in 2019.

Of the affected, according to the Institute, about 3,000 have been described as acute respiratory infections, and 13 cases with severe acute respiratory infections.

The year 2018, it was closed to 11 people dead from the seasonal flu, for which reason the authorities had declared the world the epidemic of flu.

Microbiologist Lull Raka, speaking of Radio Free Europe, said both viruses spread on the same path, through contact, spray, and, less often, through affected things. Hence, even in their prevention, he says, the same measures of public health are used, such as hand hygiene, the wearing of bandages during coughing and sneezing.

The common initiative is also the spread of the virus before the disease's appearance, the pre-simtomatic period. At COVID-19 this period is slightly shorter and usually lasts two or three days before the show of symptoms, he said.

Raka also speaks of the speed of spreading the seasonal virus and of the new coronavrus.

The speed of spreading infection is an important distinguishing element. The flu has a shorter average incubation time and a shorter serial interval than the virus caused by COVID-19. The last one is estimated to be 5-6 days, and the flu is three days. This means that the flu spreads faster than COVID-19).

Another important role plays the infection rate. The symbol does not specify the number of people who can be infected by a person with symptoms of the virus.

This number is higher than the flu. The flu is Ro=1.3, and at COVID-19 it's 2,7-3.2. However, because of contextal and specific differences in time, these comparisons are more difficult. This is due to the fact that Coddy-19 has officially taken only four months and will continue to extend further across the globe, he said.

However, according to microbiologist Raca, in the mirror of the disease, data says that COVIED-19 is said to be 80% of infections with mild symptoms, 15% are severe infections, requiring oxygen, and 5% are critical infections, requiring mechanical ventilation. The percentage of severe infections is higher than the flu.

Health professionals say that the most endangered category of severe seasonal flu infection is children, pregnant people, older people, chronically ill people and those with weakened immunity.

Meanwhile, for COVIED-19, the elderly and people with a cooperative disease are the most endangered category.

Initial data shows that children in Europe are affected by an extremely low percentage (1%). But the role of children in spreading the disease is not known correctly. The preliminary data suggests that the largest number of children have been infected by adults, and much less has occurred the infection vice versa, Raka said.

According to reports by microbiologist Raka, the mortality rate from COVID-19 is higher than the seasonal flu. Currently it is 6.8% at the global level, but it includes only reported cases in health institutions. For the seasonal flu, meanwhile, mortality is usually 0.1%.