New coronavirus variant ‘Florona’ detected in Israel: How is it different?

Countries around the world have been alerting their citizens and preparing them for a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic due to the recent emergence of Omicron, a new variant of the novel coronavirus, that has been spreading rapidly. Adding fuel to the fire, yet another strain has been detected. Named ‘florona’, this new variant has recently been detected in Israel. It could be extremely fatal as it consists of two viruses: Coronavirus and influenza. Read on to find out more about how it is different from its predecessors, symptoms and more.  

What is florona and how was it detected? 
Florona is a combination of coronavirus and influenza virus. The first case of this infection was identified at Rabin Medical Centre in Petah Tikvah, Israel. It was found in a young, pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital for delivery. It is important to note that she was not vaccinated at all. The doctors could not say with certainty if this woman had Covid or influenza, so they dubbed her situation a case of florona. Doctors noted that the symptom was mostly respiratory in nature.  

What are the symptoms of florona? 
The symptoms of florona bear a striking resemblance to those of the coronavirus and a usual flu. They include high fever, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath, headache, muscle and joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. This specific pathogen involves the nasty aspects of both the infections, and therefore can take a harsher toll on an infected individual. It was reported that the Israeli woman with the first case of the kind experienced a mild version of these listed symptoms.  

What else do we know about florona? 
As of now, information regarding florona is limited. The question of whether or not it is another variant also arises, as one section of medical professionals is of the opinion that it is simply the occurrence of coronavirus and influenza at the same time. Interestingly, doctors in Israel have drawn attention to reports of a high volume of influenza cases in the country recently. This would suggest that it might not really be a new variant such as delta or omicron. Research about florona has already begun with experts and governments cautioning people about it.