Co-infection between the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the influenza Type B in Isfahan, Iran

• Main Authors: Kiyan Heshmat-Ghahdarijani, Golnaz Vaseghi, Maryam Nasirian, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
• Subjects: coronavirus; coronavirus disease 2019; influenza
• Online Access: http://www.jmsjournal.net/article.asp?issn=1735-1995;year=2021;volume=26;issue=1;spage=51;epage=51;aulast=Heshmat-Ghahdarijani

Background: Some studies have been reported the rates of co-infection between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza virus in the different regions. In this study, we report the co-infection rates between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza type B in Isfahan, Iran. Materials and Methods: All patients with a definite diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from Isfahan COVID-19 registry (I-core) study were enrolled from February 2020. Results: Of the 1639 laboratory COVID-19 confirmed in Isfahan province, only two persons were positive for Influenza B from Isfahan COVID-19 registry (I-core). Both patients were symptom-free after 3 months' follow-up. Conclusion: During influenza season, differentiating other causes of respiratory illness from COVID-19 is difficult, because common clinical manifestations of COVID-19 mimic those of influenza. It seems that evaluating for co-infection with different types of influenza viruses in patients with specific settings should be considered.