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How to tell the difference between the FLU and COVID-19

Posted at 6:33 AM, Dec 28, 2021
and last updated 2021-12-28 10:51:15-05

TULSA, Okla. — As the Omicron variant surges across the country and flu season underway, many are wondering what those sniffles and sneezes might actually mean?

So far, Oklahoma is on track to have a typical flu season based on state numbers. The Oklahoma Department of Health reports 174 people hospitalized for the flu since September, 28 patients in the past two to three weeks and two people died. The CDC is warning this year’s flu virus could cause severe illness in the elderly and very young.

Identifying the differences between COVID symptoms and flu symptoms are challenging, even for doctors.

Some of the shared symptoms are:

  • Fever, chills
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain, body aches
  • Headache
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Two symptoms that uniquely identify COVID-19 are:

  • Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing…
  • Change in, or loss of taste or smell.

However, these symptoms vary from person-to-person. That’s why it is important to get tested. For a list of testing locations, CLICK HERE.


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