The researchers studied more than 305,000 patients who had been hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that caused COVID-19. This makes the research the largest study ever conducted in people with Covid and other endemic respiratory viruses. The subjects in the study were all admitted to hospitals in the United Kingdom between 6 February 2020 and 8 December 2021. Of these, 6,965 were found to be positive for secondary viral respiratory infections along with SARS-CoV-2 – with 227 having the flu virus in particular. The team found that patients infected with both SARS-CoV-2 and the flu were more than four times more likely to need ventilatory support than those infected with Covid alone. In addition, those with both COVID-19 and the “flu” were 2.4 times more likely to die from the disease than their coronavirus counterparts. The findings, the team said, underscore the need for hospitals to stimulate higher levels of “flu testing in their Covid patients.” In addition, it emphasizes the importance of full coronavirus and influenza vaccination. READ MORE: Covid’s horror as experts warn of NEW scary variations Co-author of the work and intensive care specialist, Professor Kenneth Baillie of the University of Edinburgh, said: “We have found that the combination of COVID-19 and influenza viruses is particularly dangerous. “This will be important as many countries reduce the use of social distance and restraint measures. We expect COVID-19 to be released with the flu, increasing the chance of co-infections. “That’s why we need to change our testing strategy for Covid-19 patients in the hospital and test for the flu much more broadly.” His colleague, Professor Calum Semple – a clinical virologist at the University of Liverpool – added: “It is now very important that people are fully vaccinated and vaccinated against the two viruses and do not leave it until it is too late.” DON’T MISS: India comes to the rescue of Russia and orders 15 million barrels of oil [REPORT]Putin’s speculations about bowel cancer are fueled by fears about the “face of the moon.” [ANALYSIS]UK to avoid Putin’s energy fury in EU as huge new gas field found [INSIGHT] Peter Openshaw, co-author of the paper and a professor of breathing at Imperial College London, added: “Infection with more than one virus is not very common, but it is important to know that co-infections occur. “The vaccines that protect against COVID-19 and the flu are different and people need both. The way these two infections are treated is also different, so it is important to get tested for other viruses even when you have been diagnosed with a respiratory infection. The full findings of the study were published in The Lancet.
