A person can get the flu, COVID-19 and SARS at the same time. Sergey Tokarev, chief prophylactologist of the Ural Federal District, pediatrician, doctor of medical sciences, spoke about this in an interview with URA.RU.
“Two or even three viruses can catch a person at the same time. It can be influenza, coronavirus and other ARVI pathogens. It can be both adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. A number of scientists express doubt that such a one-time infection is common, since viruses still compete with each other. But with the flu and COVID-19, it certainly can be. Because, according to recent data, the flu increases the expression of ACE2 receptors. And they are the entry gate for the coronavirus. Thanks to this, the S-protein of the coronavirus is more likely to bind to ACE2, and the frequency of penetration of the coronavirus into all cell types increases, ”Sergey Tokarev explained.
According to the doctor of sciences, such a mixed infection (a disease caused by two or more types of viruses or bacteria) can affect people with weakened immune systems and those with chronic diseases. “There are cases when a mixed infection develops against the background of relative well-being. But most often this occurs against the background of weakened immunity, concomitant chronic diseases, in the elderly. It occurs with certain types of therapy, when people receive immunosuppressive treatment: they are prescribed drugs that weaken the immune system, ”added Tokarev.
The interlocutor of the agency stressed that mixed infection can only be detected by laboratory testing. “Not only is it difficult for a patient to diagnose himself, but it is also not easy for a doctor to do. It is possible to establish that the patient has become infected with several infections at once only after laboratory tests. That is, it can be antigen rapid tests, and PCR tests, and ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay), and sequencing, when we can accurately determine even the strain of the virus, that is, to examine the genetic material of pathogens, ”he said.
Earlier, the immunologist, general director of the KEG contract research company, candidate of medical sciences Nikolay Kryuchkov announced outbreak of a team of different viruses – influenza, SARS and COVID-19. It is expected at the end of January and will last throughout February.
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A person can get the flu, COVID-19 and SARS at the same time. Sergey Tokarev, chief prophylactologist of the Ural Federal District, pediatrician, doctor of medical sciences, spoke about this in an interview with URA.RU. “Two or even three viruses can catch a person at the same time. It can be influenza, coronavirus and other ARVI pathogens. It can be both adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. A number of scientists express doubt that such a one-time infection is common, since viruses still compete with each other. But with the flu and COVID-19, it certainly can be. Because, according to recent data, the flu increases the expression of ACE2 receptors. And they are the entry gate for the coronavirus. Thanks to this, the S-protein of the coronavirus is more likely to bind to ACE2, and the frequency of penetration of the coronavirus into all cell types increases, ”Sergey Tokarev explained. According to the doctor of sciences, such a mixed infection (a disease caused by two or more types of viruses or bacteria) can affect people with weakened immune systems and those with chronic diseases. “There are cases when a mixed infection develops against the background of relative well-being. But most often this occurs against the background of weakened immunity, concomitant chronic diseases, in the elderly. It occurs with certain types of therapy, when people receive immunosuppressive treatment: they are prescribed drugs that weaken the immune system, ”added Tokarev. The interlocutor of the agency stressed that mixed infection can only be detected by laboratory testing. “Not only is it difficult for a patient to diagnose himself, but it is also not easy for a doctor to do. It is possible to establish that the patient has become infected with several infections at once only after laboratory tests. That is, it can be antigen rapid tests, and PCR tests, and ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay), and sequencing, when we can accurately determine even the strain of the virus, that is, to examine the genetic material of pathogens, ”he said. Earlier, an immunologist, general director of the KEG contract research company, candidate of medical sciences Nikolai Kryuchkov announced an outbreak of a team of different viruses – influenza, SARS and COVID-19. It is expected at the end of January and will last throughout February.