Lane County Public Health officials announced Tuesday they have seen the first patient to be diagnosed with both COVID-19 and Influenza.
Public Health’s Jason Davis confirmed the patient contracted both diseases while in long-term care. He said such a dual infection is very serious.
“You know that is troublesome if we’re looking at the sort of cocktail of COVID and Influenza, can really spell disaster,” Davis added.
Oregon is currently in the low-risk category for Influenza. However, cases have begun popping up in congregate settings. And Davis said nearly 70% of the county’s COVID-19 outbreaks are in places like nursing homes.
Since the start of the pandemic, health providers have been bracing for what has been dubbed a “twindemic” --when the coronavirus and Influenza spike at the same time. So far, this has not come to pass-- but flu season hasn’t peaked yet.
Davis noted the same tactics used to prevent COVID-19 transmission also work to limit the spread of Influenza.
