LOS ANGELES (KNX) — A medical testing company confirmed on Wednesday detection of the first-known case of "flurona" in Southern California — the condition of being infected with COVID-19 and the flu concurrently.
The case was detected at a testing site located at the Getty Center in Brentwood, operated by 911COVIDTesting.com. The patient was reportedly a minor who had recently returned from a trip to Mexico with family.
Chief Operating Officer Steve Farzam told KNX said the company rolled out a combination COVID-19 and flu single-swab test last week, due to overwhelming demand across the company's testing sites in Los Angeles.
Over the course of beta testing the FDA-authorized dual test, the family of five returning from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, came to the testing center after one of their minor children began exhibiting "mild symptoms" that could have indicated flu or COVID-19 infection, Farzam said.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we tested him, and sure enough the minor did test positive unfortunately for both influenza and coronavirus," Farzam said.
Farzam explained there is "some overlap" between flu and COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, fatigue, runny nose, and generalized body aches. He noted that the similarity in symptoms could mean that many people seeking repeated COVID-19 tests during a nationwide shortage might only need be tested one time for flu.
"If you're testing positive at home" for COVID-19, Farzam urged, "there's really no need for you to come to a testing site to confirm."
"Let's save those tests for people that really need them during this challenging time," he added.
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