Flu season making resurgence while COVID-19 raging

As we head into the official start of winter, local health officials are worried we might be headed for a dangerous double whammy, the flu, which is making a resurgence amid COVID-19.

KIRO 7 spoke with some local doctors about what might be ahead, who said a person can get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

KIRO 7 found out that flu cases across the country are rising, doubling in the last week alone as COVID-19 cases have nearly doubled too.

Health experts described the current crisis as a “twindemic.”

Where COVID-19 and the flu collide, infection rates soar.

“You would imagine that your chance of hospitalization, your chance of severe illness, your chances of death is going to be higher if you’re carrying both at the same time,” said Dr. Elizabeth Wako, the chief medical officer for Swedish Hospital of Seattle.

Last year, flu levels were almost nonexistent, but that is not the case this season.

KIRO 7 was told by some doctors that it will be hard for people to determine if they actually have the flu or if they have COVID-19.

“In addition, the symptoms are the same. You’re not going to be able to tell when you get sick, whether you’re sick from COVID, whether you’re sick from delta, whether you’re sick from omicron, whether you’re sick from the flu,” Wako said.

However, some hospitals tell KIRO 7 that the situation is largely under control. Hospital admissions have not spiked in western Washington yet.

According to current estimates, both COVID-19 and the flu possibly could start having an impact in our area in late January or February.

And medical workers in our area are not taking anything lightly as plans are in place at Swedish to regroup certain nurses and doctors to ICU units should things get out of control, according to Dr. Wako.

“We do have a great network of communications, so we’re able to transport patients back and for and I think that helps us. Washington state has that I think that better than other states do.”

Wako stresses that it is fine for people to get both their COVID and flu shots at the same time.

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