Arizonans with COVID-19 symptoms may actually have the flu – The Arizona Republic

While a cough, fever and fatigue are often signs of COVID-19,Arizonans experiencing those symptomsright now mayactually havethe flu.

Arizona is in the midst of an unusually late spike in flu cases, and it's not too late to get a flu vaccine,Carla Berg, Deputy Director for Public Health Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services, said in a May 19blog post.

The increase in flu cases comes at a time when COVID-19 cases have also been risingin Arizona.

Dr. Robert Porter, an emergency medicine physician at Banner Ironwood Medical Center, told The Arizona Republic that Banner Health isseeing an increase in patients with the flu, many of whom believe they have COVID-19.

If you have flu-like symptoms and are worried it could be COVID-19, Porter suggeststaking an at-home COVID-19 test, as the symptoms are quite similar and there isn't a reliable way to distinguish between them based on symptoms alone. However, he said the home care for both illnesses is largely the same.

Unless you get extremely sick and have difficulty breathing and are not able to keep fluids down, then most of the stuff is symptom relief at home, Porter said.

If you feel dehydrated or are getting more sick and not able to drink and eat, then those are reasons to come in and get evaluated or go see your primary care physician. Depending on how sick you are, you can go to your primary doctor, urgent care or an emergency room.

Anyone who has not had the vaccine needs to hurry up because supplies are expiring, Chandler family physician Dr. Andrew Carroll told The Republic.

Many doctors offices may no longer have the flu vaccine this late in the season, he said.

State health department spokesperson Steve Elliott told The Republic in an email that the vaccine will expire at the end of June, which means there is still time for people to benefit from it. People should check pharmacies or other providers if their doctor doesnt have it, he said. However, it is better for people to get the flu vaccine at the start of each flu season, Elliott wrote.

For anyone who can't find a flu vaccine, Carroll advisestaking other precautions like wearing an N95 or KN95 mask indoors to avoid both the flu and COVID-19, rates of which have been increasing in recent weeks.

"If you wash your hands, hand sanitize and you mask, you're providing a decent layer of protection, and that's the best thing to do at this time," he said. "If you are going to the grocery store or a sports event or an airplane, you really should be wearing a mask."

Flu cases usually spike around December and January, but Arizona isexperiencing an unusualsecond spike, ADHS data shows, though overall flu cases have been lower than usual this season. A similar trend is happening in other states, Bergs post says.

A reduction in COVID-19 mitigation measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing may be one reason for the recent uptick in flu cases, Berg wrote.

COVID-19 and influenza share many of the same signs and symptoms, Berg wrote.Both can result in severe illness and complications, especially for older adults, people with certain underlying medical conditions, and pregnant women.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against the flu, Berg wrote. In addition, she wrote, she advises other ways to protect oneself:

Republic reporter Stephanie Innescontributed to this article.

Christina van Waasbergen is a journalism student at Northwestern University and an intern covering health care at The Arizona Republic. Reach her at cvanwaasbergen@arizonarepublic.com.

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Arizonans with COVID-19 symptoms may actually have the flu - The Arizona Republic