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The mission of the Houston Area Safety Council is building safe workplaces by improving the quality and integrity of the workforce.

The mission of the UT School of Public Health is changing the culture of health through excellence in graduate education, research and engagement.

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US DAILY NEW CASES (CDC)

US POSITIVITY RATE (JHU)

Source: CDC, Sept 23, 2020

Influenza-like Illness Activity, U.S.

§ How contagious are these viruses?

§ Based on how many more people an infected person will pass it to

§ Flu has a reproduction number of ≈ 1.3

§ COVID-19 reproduction rate ≈ 2

§ Measles reproduction of ≈ 18

§ H1N1 2009 reproduction rate ≈ 1.5

FLU VS COVID-19

§ Both are contagious respiratory viruses

§ Both share many of the same symptoms

§ Both can be contagious before you have any signs or symptoms

§ Both can cause severe illness to those at highest risk

FLU VS COVID-19 - SIMILARITIES

Fever or feeling feverish/chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigue (tiredness)Sore throatRunny or stuffy noseMuscle pain or body achesHeadacheSome people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

FLU VS COVID-19 – SIMILAR SYMPTOMS

Change in taste or smell is unique to COVID-19

FLU VS COVID-19 – DIFFERING SYMPTOMS

In the flu, a person can develop symptoms from 1-4 days after infection

In COVID-19, the person typically develops symptoms 5 days after being infected but can vary from 2-14 days

§ This is why you quarantine for 14 days if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19

§ The problem, most of the time you don’t know when or where you got exposed

FLU VS COVID-19 – DIFFERING INCUBATION

In both flu and COVID a person can be contagious before they have symptoms• This is why facial coverings and distancing is important

In both flu and COVID a person can be contagious if they don’t have any symptoms, or very mild symptoms

• This is why facial coverings and distancing is important

In the flu, a person is most contagious during the first 3-4 days of the illness and up to 7 daysIn COVID-19, a person is can be contagious for at least 10 days after symptoms start

• Remember this is a NOVEL virus, we still don’t know!

FLU VS COVID-19 – SPREAD

For flu there are antivirals such as Tamiflu that can reduce the duration of the illness

In COVID-19 there are emerging treatment options• Plasma therapy is still being investigated• Remdesivir is still being studied and may reduce the duration and severity• Steroids may reduce severity

FLU VS COVID-19 – TREATMENT

GET A FLU SHOT!OFFER FLU SHOTS TO YOUR EMPLOYEES!ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR!

COVID-19 vaccination trials are in their final stagesAppears a vaccine will be released by end of this year with mass production into 2021

FLU VS COVID-19 – VACCINATION

FLU VS COVID-19 – VACCINATION

The bad:§ A combined wave of these 2 viruses hitting the U.S. during the worst public health

crisis of our time, coupled with lax safety precautions.

§ Both viruses can cause complications and death.

§ Co-infection can occur.

§ Those vulnerable to either of the two infections stand to be affected most severely.

§ Hospital capacity can be stretched.

COVID-19 + FLU (2020)

The good:§ Strict adherence to COVID-19 PPE and safe practices may lead to substantial

reductions in both infections (thanks, Australia!).

§ There is treatment for both infections, but it is different for each.

§ There is an effective vaccine for one (flu) and promising vaccines for the other

(COVID-19), although neither is likely to be 100% effective.

§ Mass population vaccination can further decrease the burden of disease

COVID-19 + FLU (2020)

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