A 7-year-old boy who had a fever of 41.7 degrees on New Year's Day.

It turned out that he had been infected with the new coronavirus and the flu at the same time.


Since the beginning of the year, the number of people infected with the new corona has reached a record high in various places, and the number of deaths nationwide has also reached a record high.


As concerns about the simultaneous epidemic of corona and influenza are increasing, experts point out that even if it is a rare case, it is likely to become severe in the event of simultaneous infection.

Co-infected with corona and flu

At the clinic in Kita Ward, Tokyo, many people complaining of fevers visit the clinic every day after the new year.

The patient, a 6-year-old boy, complained of a fever from the previous day and a severe headache, saying, "My head is pounding."



At the clinic, we also test for influenza at the same time.



As a result, this boy is negative for the new corona.

On the other hand, influenza was positive.

Hiromichi Ito, Director of Ito Oji Kamiya Internal Medicine and Surgery Clinic, said, "The number of flu patients compared to the overall ratio is increasing compared to the end of the year. From the beginning of the year, the flu started to increase, and now the rate of increase in flu is higher than the rate of increase in corona. I feel like it's too high," he said, adding that the number of flu patients has increased markedly since the beginning of the year.



Director Ito believes that the infection spread at home during the year-end and New Year holidays.



Furthermore, as the number of influenza patients increased, there were cases of simultaneous infection with the new coronavirus.

A 7-year-old boy who visited the doctor had a fever of 41.7 degrees on New Year's Day.



As a result of the antigen test, the influenza was positive.



Director Ito said, ``In the home, if one person is infected with coronavirus, and another person is infected with influenza, there is a certain probability of simultaneous infection when the two are mixed in the home.'' was talking

The number of influenza patients exceeds the guideline for the beginning of the epidemic season nationwide

The number of influenza patients nationwide has exceeded the standard for the beginning of the epidemic season.



According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of influenza patients reported from about 5,000 medical institutions nationwide in the week until the 1st of this month was 9,768, an increase of 3,665 from the previous week.

Influenza is said to enter a "national epidemic season" when the number of patients per week per medical institution exceeds 1 nationwide, and this time it was 2.05 and 1.24, which was 0.81 points higher than the previous week. We continue to exceed this target.



By region, Okinawa has the highest number of 9.89, followed by Toyama with 5.96, Fukuoka with 4.19, Osaka with 3.73, Kanagawa with 3.70, and Miyazaki with 3.29. and 30 prefectures exceeded “1 person”.

The third semester begins while the infection spreads

Under these circumstances, the winter vacation is over, and the children have started school.



In Osaka, about 350 municipal elementary and junior high schools held the opening ceremony for the third semester on the 10th, and at Nonaka Elementary School in Yodogawa Ward, the children were greeted by local watchers and teachers standing in front of the main gate. I greeted her cheerfully and went to school.



The opening ceremony was held in the auditorium after taking measures against infection by ventilation and spacing.

In anticipation of simultaneous epidemics, heat generation outpatient installation in drive-through format

On the other hand, there are also moves to prepare for the simultaneous epidemic of the new coronavirus and influenza.

From the 10th, Ibaraki Prefecture set up a drive-through temporary fever outpatient clinic in Tsukuba City that can accommodate up to 300 people per day, and began operation.



PCR tests are available at the temporary fever outpatient clinic, and if you wish, you can also receive an influenza test at the same time for a fee.



The test results will be sent by email about three hours after the examination, and if infection with the new corona is confirmed, you can receive a doctor's examination and prescription of medicine online from a dedicated application.

Reservations are required from the Ibaraki Prefecture website for consultations, and on the first day, all the reservation slots for 300 people are filled.



Ibaraki Prefecture will continue to operate a temporary fever outpatient clinic for the next two months while monitoring the infection status of the new corona and influenza.

Ask an expert Co-infected with corona and influenza

We asked Professor Kenji Kutsuna of Osaka University about three things to worry about at this time of the year: "simultaneous infection of the new coronavirus and influenza," "increase in the number of deaths," and "new mutant strains."

Q. About co-infection

A. Professor Kutsuna says that even if it is a rare case, it is likely to become severe if infected.


"It is said that the possibility of becoming severe is about four times higher than if you were infected only with the new coronavirus, and the frequency of death is about twice as high, so after all, both should be vaccinated in advance. I think it's important to take preventative measures where possible."

Q. Regarding the unstoppable spread of the new coronavirus infection

On the 7th, the number of deaths nationwide reached 463, the highest ever.

Why did the number of deaths increase even though the number of infected people is less than the 7th wave?


A. Professor Kutsuna points out that the actual number of infected people may have exceeded the peak of the 7th wave due to the change in the method of grasping the total number, and calls for caution against further increases.


“With the year-end and New Year holidays, the number of people will increase and the flow of people will increase, making it easier for infections to spread. In that sense, it is difficult to expect the number of infected people to peak out. I think it's possible that reopening will spread to the younger generation."

Q. About new mutants

A. Professor Kutsuna is concerned about the influx of "XBB.1.5", one of the Omicron stocks that is rapidly expanding in the United States.


“Compared to the Omicron strains that have existed so far, the nature of immune escape, which makes it difficult for vaccines and immunity from past infections to work, has become even stronger. I think the number of infected people is likely to increase more and more.”

The convergence of the 8th wave is invisible and a new mutation appears.


It is said that the infectious power is strong, but Professor Kutsuna is calling for vaccination again, saying that the current vaccine is effective in preventing aggravation.

In addition, both the new coronavirus and influenza are respiratory infections, and the routes of infection are similar, so the measures to be taken do not change significantly.



▽ If you have symptoms such as fever, do not go to school or work, and avoid contact with other people as much as possible.

rest is important.


▽Wear a mask when disinfecting your hands and when talking to people indoors at a close distance.

It is important to have good ventilation in restaurants.