What is the Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza?

Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses: influenza viruses and the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, respectively. They share some similarities but also have key differences:

Similarities:

• Both diseases can cause mild to severe symptoms, and some people may be asymptomatic.
• Common symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Both spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings, or breathes, as well as through contaminated surfaces.

Differences:

• COVID-19 can cause more severe illness in some people and has been observed to have more superspreading events than flu.
• COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms, and people may be contagious for longer periods.
• Influenza is seasonal, while COVID-19 has been a constant presence, or endemic, with some data suggesting peaks in prevalence.
• The rate of changes to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is significantly higher than that of influenza.
• COVID-19 symptoms tend to last longer than flu symptoms.

Both diseases can be fatal, and it is crucial to understand the differences between them to better protect yourself and others. Diagnostic testing may be necessary to determine which illness a person has, as symptoms alone may not be enough to differentiate between the two.

Comparative Table: Coronavirus vs Influenza

COVID-19 and influenza are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses and have some differences in their characteristics. Here is a table comparing the differences between coronavirus and influenza: