Influenza cases are on the rise in Australia.
Two years of COVID restrictions have left the population with little natural immunity to the flu and we are heading into the winter months with both viruses circulating in the community.
Authorities are urging people to get vaccinated against the flu and re-immerse themselves in their set of COVID masks, vaccination and social distancing prevention tools.
And then there is the evidence. You can get tested for flu after seeing a doctor, but fast antigen testing is another story.
Can rapid antigen testing for the flu be done?
Yes. Technology is available, but the demand for RAT flu is not yet there, says Kirsty Short, a virologist at the University of Queensland.
“There has been no demand, I mean, rapid antigen testing has existed as a technology for other pathogens,” says Dr. Short.
“For example, HIV has rapid antigen testing and this has been widely used.”
This could change after its common use in the midst of the COVID pandemic.
He says the idea of widespread use of rapid antigen testing is relatively new.
Rapid antigen tests are available for the flu, but they are often expensive and difficult to obtain. (Unsplash: Annie Spratt)
Currently, rapid antigen tests for the flu are expensive and not as available as COVID tests.
“So I think that makes it difficult, but if we were in a situation where they could be released to the general public I think it would be helpful,” says Dr. Short.
“The easier and cheaper these tests can be, the more widely they can be used.”
Is it worth taking the flu test?
Tests have many benefits, says Dr. Short.
Confirmation of an infection can determine how quickly you can access treatments.
“We’ve seen the power of diagnosis and the importance of diagnosis in managing outbreaks,” he says.
“This comes down to specific risks. Imagine if someone is older or has underlying conditions, they are tested at the beginning of their illness and tested positive for the flu and not COVID.
“Then they would be eligible for antivirals, specifically Tamiflu, which reduces the severity of the disease.”
It is something that many have witnessed during COVID.
“If they test positive for COVID, they would be eligible for antivirals or monoclonal antibodies to reduce the severity of the disease,” he says.
“Once you know this, and as long as you know it early enough in the course of the infection, you may receive some treatment.
“These antivirals work great at the beginning of the course [of the disease]. “
Read more about the spread of COVID-19:
Can I get vaccinated against the flu with my COVID booster?
Health authorities across the country have urged people to get vaccinated against the flu.
Queensland Acting Director of Health Peter Aitken is the latest to remind us that you can get vaccinated against the flu and COVID on the same day.
“Most people have two shoulders and you can get a flu shot and a COVID shot at the same time,” Dr. Aitken said yesterday.
What precautions can I take against the flu?
In addition to getting vaccinated against the flu, the precautions are very similar to those we use against COVID.
“I think the safest way to go if you feel like a thief is to stay away from other people while we’re actively sick,” says University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay.
“This is what our body tells us when we have them [flu like] symptoms, says ‘you know what, rest now’ “.
Wearing a mask, socially distancing oneself, getting vaccinated, and staying away from work while ill will prevent it from spreading to others.
“It’s very important that you don’t spread it to others, broadcasting it over the net because we lose people from work and sometimes people don’t get sick and that’s very important,” says Dr. Mackay.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, arrows up and down for volume. Clock time: 2 minutes 11 seconds 2m 11s COVID-19 rethinks calls as an Australian state 1,000 dead.
What you need to know about coronavirus:
Loading form …