1 The source used to pertain the necessary articles was Google.
2 The new coronavirus was discovered in January and has since been compared to another disease that is known well, which is; The flu.
This can be investigated by closely looking at the immunology of both of these illnesses and further research on how they affect one’s immune system and whether any immunity to the disease is induced.
3 The following statements will be evaluated in this paper:
Both COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory illnesses. But COVID-19 is not the flu. Research so far indicates that COVID-19 spreads more easily and has a higher death rate than the flu (Rettner, 2020).
Based on what we currently know about the Flu (Influenza) and the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) disease, which we continue to learn more about, both may present issues for the very young, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions (Yale New Haven Health, 2020).
4 Although the death rate of COVID-19 is very unclear, scientists believe that it is much higher than that of the flu. The death rate caused by the common flu is approximately 0.1 according to news reports whereas the death rate of the novel corona-virus remains unpredictable due to the fact that it varies by age, location and one’s underlying health condition.
Upon further research, it can be seen on worldometer that there are a total of 325,172 deaths due to the novel corona-virus as of May,20th whereas the World Health Organisation estimates that 290,000 to 650,00 people die due to the flu annually. However, we need to also pay attention to the time span of COVID-19 as it was first discovered in January. The fact that COVID-19 spreads easily addresses that the number of cases would increase because there is still no vaccine available yet.
However, it should be known that on the basis of what is known about both of these conditions, they both play a part in affecting the lives of not only the youth, but the elderly, and those who have medical conditions already.
Due to the fact that they are both respiratory illnesses, it can be assumed that they would have almost the same effects.
Statistics show that children are more highly affected by the flu whereas this is not the case for COVID-19 as older people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, lung and heart disease are at a higher risk of serious complications. Be that as it may, there has been an intense inflammatory condition that has recently been observed in children with similar symptoms to Kawasaki disease that may be linked to COVID-19.
The exact cause of Kawasaki disease remains unknown, but the inflammatory state often arises during or after a viral infection, raising the question of whether COVID-19 could be a potential cause (Lanese, 2020). Therefore, it can be confirmed that both of these medical conditions can vastly affect the lives of people and present issues for all age groups who may or may not have underlying medical conditions.
5 To evaluate both of the viewpoints precisely in order to observe which is more profound, there needs to be an analysis on the criteria of symptoms and death rates.
Symptoms:
It has been medically recorded that the flu symptoms include cough, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, runny nose, and headaches. These symptoms come on suddenly and might cause complications such as Pneumonia.
COVID-19 showcases symptoms that vary from mild to severe such as dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle pain, loss of smell and/or taste, and repeated shaking that is accompanied with chills.
Death rates:
A multinational survey states that the flu kills approximately 290,000 to 650,000 individuals per year. It should be noted that this estimate excludes deaths that have been caused by any pandemic outbursts.
In order to know the death rate of COVID-19, we need to know the exact number of cases which is difficult due to the fact that there possibly are cases that have not been recorded due to the fact a lot of cases are asymptomatic. However, the total number of deaths recorded as of May, 20th is 325,172.
6 It can now be noted that the COVID-19 is indeed more dangerous than the flu due to the fact that in such a short span of time, there has been a large number of deaths. If a vaccine were to not be found, millions of people might lose their lives due to this pandemic if it were to not be contained. Therefore, it cannot be compared to the flu which already has a vaccine that provides immunity.
7 In conclusion, the presence of a flu vaccine can subsequently lead to immunization.
Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). The lack of a novel-coronavirus vaccine means there is no immunization to the illness, hence; there is no prevention against hospitalization.
8 The position that would be supported is that both COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory illnesses. But COVID-19 is not the flu. Research so far indicates that COVID-19 spreads more easily and has a higher death rate than the flu (Rettner, 2020).