Flu season has finally arrived. Paired with the ongoing battle with COVID-19, the influence can pose an even greater threat to our well-being this year. You may have heard that COVID-19 and Influenza have shared similarities. Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, yet caused by different viruses. While COVID-19 is caused by infection with 2019-nCoV, the flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Even though both diseases share some common symptoms, they can affect people differently. 

The importance of testing for the identification of Influenza and COVID-19

We acknowledged that some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar. People who got flu or COVID-19 would have cough, fever, sore throat, or runny nose. Thus, the difference between them cannot be made based on symptoms alone. Testing is required to tell what the illness is and to confirm a diagnosis. People can be infected with both flu and COVID-19 simultaneously and have symptoms of both flu and COVID-19.
 
Compared to flu, COVID-19 can cause more serious illnesses in some patients. COVID-19 can also take longer before people show symptoms, and they can be contagious for longer. However, there is no approved treatment for COVID-19 patients so far. 
 
As a result, the differentiation of flu and COVID-19 plays an important role during the pandemic. Early detection and differentiation on infection can triage COVID-19 patients from other patients to mitigate the pressures on medical resources distribution and curb the spread of the epidemic by applying proper control and prevention measures for COVID-19. Besides, for people infected with the influenza virus, antiviral medications are more effective and can even lessen symptoms and shorten the time by 1-2 days.
 
In Oct 2021, ECDC (European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control) has advocated the awareness of the influenza vaccination campaign in the elderly group during this winter and indicated the possibility of a steep rise in flu infections in the upcoming seasons. Therefore, we must take the necessary precautions and protect those most at risk.
 
Influenza/2019-nCoV Antigen Combo Test

As one of the pioneers in the Chinese POCT industry, Wondfo has developed Influenza/2019-nCoV Antigen Combo Test for the differentiation of the FLU and COVID-19.
 
The test's main purpose is to support the rapid diagnosis of influenza A, Influenza B, and/or COVID-19 infection. Results are provided within 15 minutes through a nasopharyngeal swab. 
 
Wondfo's testing solution is a lateral flow assay with a colloidal gold reporter, which has obtained CE certifications.

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