Screening of Influenza Virus A and B among COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Southern India

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza virus are quite distant viruses, but they share significant similarities such as mode of transmission and clinical manifestations. No specific clinical signs reliably distinguish early influenza sickness from the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19); therefore, it will be critical in clinical practice to determine the viral etiology. The present study aimed to screen for influenza virus A and B among COVID-19 patients by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Materials Methods: A total of 100 nasal swabs from COVID-19 patients were collected in viral transport medium (VTM) during June to July 2022. RNA extraction was done using QIagen RNA extraction kit, and then RT-qPCR was performed using HELINI swine flu (H1N1) kit. Findings: The average age of the study participants was 31 years, and 13 patients were hospitalized due to the COVID infection. Hypertension, diabetes, and chronic lung, heart and kidney diseases were identified as comorbidities. It was found that none of the tested samples were positive for influenza A and B. Conclusion: Although none of the patients were positive for influenza, the importance of co-infection could not be ignored. Screening of a large number of samples is needed during the seasonal period.