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The pandemic shut down Australia for almost two years. In February, the country finally opened up to the world, but it soon became apparent that a disease called “super cold” was spreading among the people. The symptoms are disturbingly similar to coronavirus infection, but not COVID-19. «Similar phenomena are likely to occur around the world due to the easing of restrictions» warns «Medical News Today». What happened in Australia, and what do doctors think?
- While Australians are easing COVID-19 safety measures, the ‘super cold’ is sweeping through the country
- People complain of a runny nose, sore throat, sticky discharge from the eyes, general fatigue. Some people experience fever, headache, and body aches
- A similar phenomenon was observed in November last year in Great Britain
- The symptoms are very similar to COVID-19, which is of concern. There are also some differences in symptoms
- “Doctors warn Australia has never been more prone to colds and flu than it is now, after being cut off from the rest of the world for so long,” points out the Daily Mail. The reason is known
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
The “super cold” is sweeping through Australia. What are the symptoms?
“Today we are back in the world,” announced Dominic Perrotte, New South Wales (Australian state) Prime Minister in February, when the country opened up to foreign travelers after two years of closure. The pandemic restrictions were slowly eased earlier, at the end of 2021. Meanwhile, in March, information appeared about the phenomenon of “super cold”, which is sweeping through Australia. The symptoms worry Australians because they resemble coronavirus infection. Concerns about SARS-CoV-2 infections are growing.
The symptoms people experience are classic symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. Patients complain of runny nose, sore throat, sticky discharge from the eyes, general fatigue. «Or you may have a kind of hoarse cough, but that’s basically it. You should recover in five to seven days, ”GP Dr. Charlotte Hespe told the Daily Mail Australia. It is known that some people also experience flu symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches.
The rest of the text is below the video.
While the symptoms of the “super cold” are very similar to COVID-19, there are also differences. One of the most important is a loss of taste or smell, which is not observed in the former case. A rapid antigen test or a PCR test remains the best way to identify problems. It is worth remembering that even “ordinary” flu can be dangerous.
The phenomenon of “super colds” in Australia. Doctors say where it came from
Why is there a “super cold” phenomenon in Australia? Experts have some suspicion. In their opinion, two years of isolation of the continent reduced the resistance of its inhabitants to influenza viruses and colds. «People, they are traveling again. They bring pathogens with them »points out Charlotte Hespe. In other words, after a two-year isolation period, Australia’s immune systems are “overwhelmed by many new germs at once”. “GPs warn Australia has never been more susceptible to colds and flu than it is now, after being cut off from the rest of the world for so long.” – underlines the Daily Mail.
“Some cases of super colds” may just be normal colds that the body is less able to deal with now, says Dr. Ian Mackay of the University of Queensland in Australia. «I suppose these are the usual everyday acute respiratory diseases, caused by a wide variety of endemic viruses. And to be clear, when I say “endemic” I mean viruses that are always with us in a certain number “- he emphasizes.
Importantly, similar phenomena of “super cold” were already observed in November last year in Great Britain, when residents first emerged from the blockade. In addition, health experts have previously warned that after such a long period of isolation, Australians will have more respiratory diseases. Finally, there is a third important point: it is possible that increases in “super colds” will occur worldwide as COVID-19 containment measures are lifted.
Will there be a flu outbreak in Australia? Doctors advise
The rapid spread of colds and flu in Australia is seen as evidence that this year’s cold and flu season (in Australia and the southern hemisphere it runs from April to September) may be difficult. Dr Hespe even warns that Australia is ripe for a flu epidemic. Experts therefore recommend vaccinating against it, but also making up for any backlogs in vaccinations against COVID-19. On the other hand, doctors fear that “vaccine fatigue” will keep many people from immunizing. There are many people who think they have had enough doses.) Likewise, many are tired of wearing masks and distancing themselves.
Even so, Dr. Ian Mackay recommends being sensible in the face of colds, flu and COVID-19. The expert emphasizes that we should be doing “exactly the same things that we recommended for SARS-CoV-2 – our current pandemic pathogen”. «Wash your hands (a really good general rule to avoid infecting us with viruses and bacteria); wear a mask as it is wiser to assume that they are airborne viruses that we breathe out, »he explains.
Charlotte Hespe says in a similar vein: “I recommend that everyone still wear protective masks in crowded places – especially when we are around someone who may not be feeling well. If you have symptoms, stay at home, don’t pass the virus on to others »she emphasizes.
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