COVID-19 and the Flu: What's the Difference?

Flu season happens every year in the U.S. in the fall and winter. COVID-19 has similar symptoms. How do you know if someone has the flu or COVID-19? What are the differences between these two illnesses? Can you get both at the same time? See how they compare below.

Can you get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?

Yes, medical experts say that you can have both infections at the same time.

A look at the differences

Aspects of illness	Flu (influenza)	COVID-19
Cause	Different types (strains) of flu viruses that spread each year. Flu season is usually fall and winter.	A type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Different strains of SARS-CoV-2 have spread since the pandemic started in 2019. They are not seasonal.
How it spreads	It spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, talking, or touching infected surfaces and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.	It spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, talking, or touching infected surfaces and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Some strains spread more easily than the flu but not as easily as measles.
Prevention	Wash your hands often, stay home if you feel ill, limit contact with other people, and avoid people who are sick.	Wash your hands often, stay home if you feel ill, limit contact with other people, and avoid people who are sick. If you are sick (regardless of whether you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19), wear a face mask when around other people. Follow all safety precautions for your area. Follow the latest CDC guidance on when you can leave the house unmasked. Vaccines are also part of prevention.
Vaccine	Different types of flu vaccines are available each year. Getting a vaccine can help prevent or lessen symptoms of the flu. Talk with your healthcare provider about the type of vaccine that’s best for you and when to get it. If you are sick with any infection, get the flu vaccine as soon as you recover.	COVID-19 vaccines are advised for everyone ages 6 months and older, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax) to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. This guidance changes frequently, so follow the latest updates on the CDC website or talk with your healthcare provider.
Symptoms	They can be mild to severe and can include: Fever Chills Body aches Cough Sore throat Stuffy or runny nose Headache Tiredness Vomiting and diarrhea, more often in children	Some people have no symptoms. In other people, they can be mild to severe and can include: Fever Chills Body aches Cough Sore throat Stuffy or runny nose Headache Tiredness Feeling short of breath New loss of taste or smell Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea
When symptoms start	Usually 1 to 4 days after infection	Usually 2 to 5 days after infection, but can start 2 to 10 days after infection
How long a person is contagious	A person can spread the flu at least 1 day before symptoms start. Older kids and adults are most contagious for the first 3 to 4 days of symptoms. They can spread the virus up to 7 days after symptoms start. Babies and people with weak immune systems can be contagious longer.	How long someone can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 is still being studied. On average, a person can start spreading the virus about 2 to 3 days before symptoms start. But they are most infectious 1 day before symptoms start. Most people can keep spreading the virus for 8 more days after symptoms start.
Testing	There are different kinds of rapid flu tests. The tests are done by wiping a swab inside your nose or throat. The results can come back in 10 minutes to several hours. A saliva-based test is being developed. A single test for both flu and SARS-CoV-2 may be available. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more.	Testing is very important to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. There are different kinds of tests for COVID-19. Some check for a current (active) infection. This is called a viral test. Other tests check for a past COVID-19 infection. This is called an antibody test. The latter is done by a healthcare provider or lab. Rapid viral tests, including self-test kits, are available to check for an active infection.
Treatment	The flu may be treated with antiviral medicine. This can help ease symptoms. It can also shorten the amount of time you’re sick. These medicines need to be taken as soon as possible when you start to feel sick. Antibiotics are not used because they don’t work on the flu virus. But antibiotics may be used to prevent or treat an infection by bacteria that can sometimes happen after having the flu. Other treatment for the flu includes care to ease symptoms. This includes rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and pain and fever medicine as needed. In severe cases, you may need time in the hospital to treat complications from flu.	Treatment for COVID-19 includes care to ease symptoms. This includes rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and pain and fever medicine as needed. For mild illness, you may need antiviral medicines, steroids, or antibody therapies. In severe cases, you may need time in the hospital for supplemental oxygen, IV fluids, and other care. Treatments are available for people who are at high risk of getting severe COVID-19 and being admitted to the hospital. Treatments must be started within a few days after you develop symptoms, so don't delay calling your healthcare provider. Antibiotics are not used because they don’t work on the virus that causes COVID-19. But antibiotics may be used to treat an infection by bacteria that may happen after getting COVID-19.
Possible complications	Can include: Bacterial infections Ear infection Inflammation of muscle tissues (myositis or rhabdomyolysis) Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) Multiple-organ failure Pneumonia Sepsis Sinus infection Worsening of chronic conditions of the lungs, heart, and nervous system Worsening of diabetes	Can include: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Bacterial pneumonia Heart attack Inflammation of muscle tissues (myositis or rhabdomyolysis) Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) Multiple-organ failure Respiratory failure Sepsis Stroke Worsening of chronic conditions of the lungs, heart, and nervous system Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare complication that causes inflammation of blood vessels and organs. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) has been reported but is rare. Can include a wide array of long COVID complications: Ongoing problems with taste or smell Memory and concentration problems, also called "brain fog" Post-exertional fatigue Lightheadedness

Aspects of illness

Flu (influenza)

COVID-19

Cause

Different types (strains) of flu viruses that spread each year. Flu season is usually fall and winter.

A type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Different strains of SARS-CoV-2 have spread since the pandemic started in 2019. They are not seasonal.

How it spreads

It spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, talking, or touching infected surfaces and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

It spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, talking, or touching infected surfaces and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Some strains spread more easily than the flu but not as easily as measles.

Prevention

Wash your hands often, stay home if you feel ill, limit contact with other people, and avoid people who are sick.

Wash your hands often, stay home if you feel ill, limit contact with other people, and avoid people who are sick. If you are sick (regardless of whether you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19), wear a face mask when around other people. Follow all safety precautions for your area. Follow the latest CDC guidance on when you can leave the house unmasked. Vaccines are also part of prevention.

Vaccine

Different types of flu vaccines are available each year. Getting a vaccine can help prevent or lessen symptoms of the flu. Talk with your healthcare provider about the type of vaccine that’s best for you and when to get it. If you are sick with any infection, get the flu vaccine as soon as you recover.

COVID-19 vaccines are advised for everyone ages 6 months and older, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax) to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.

This guidance changes frequently, so follow the latest updates on the CDC website or talk with your healthcare provider.

Symptoms

They can be mild to severe and can include:

Fever
Chills
Body aches
Cough
Sore throat
Stuffy or runny nose
Headache
Tiredness
Vomiting and diarrhea, more often in children

Some people have no symptoms. In other people, they can be mild to severe and can include:

Fever
Chills
Body aches
Cough
Sore throat
Stuffy or runny nose
Headache
Tiredness
Feeling short of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

When symptoms start

Usually 1 to 4 days after infection

Usually 2 to 5 days after infection, but can start 2 to 10 days after infection

How long a person is contagious

A person can spread the flu at least 1 day before symptoms start. Older kids and adults are most contagious for the first 3 to 4 days of symptoms. They can spread the virus up to 7 days after symptoms start. Babies and people with weak immune systems can be contagious longer.

How long someone can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 is still being studied. On average, a person can start spreading the virus about 2 to 3 days before symptoms start. But they are most infectious 1 day before symptoms start. Most people can keep spreading the virus for 8 more days after symptoms start.

Testing

There are different kinds of rapid flu tests. The tests are done by wiping a swab inside your nose or throat. The results can come back in 10 minutes to several hours. A saliva-based test is being developed.

A single test for both flu and SARS-CoV-2 may be available. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more.

Testing is very important to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

There are different kinds of tests for COVID-19. Some check for a current (active) infection. This is called a viral test. Other tests check for a past COVID-19 infection. This is called an antibody test. The latter is done by a healthcare provider or lab.

Rapid viral tests, including self-test kits, are available to check for an active infection.

Treatment

The flu may be treated with antiviral medicine. This can help ease symptoms. It can also shorten the amount of time you’re sick. These medicines need to be taken as soon as possible when you start to feel sick. Antibiotics are not used because they don’t work on the flu virus. But antibiotics may be used to prevent or treat an infection by bacteria that can sometimes happen after having the flu. Other treatment for the flu includes care to ease symptoms. This includes rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and pain and fever medicine as needed. In severe cases, you may need time in the hospital to treat complications from flu.

Treatment for COVID-19 includes care to ease symptoms. This includes rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and pain and fever medicine as needed. For mild illness, you may need antiviral medicines, steroids, or antibody therapies. In severe cases, you may need time in the hospital for supplemental oxygen, IV fluids, and other care.

Treatments are available for people who are at high risk of getting severe COVID-19 and being admitted to the hospital. Treatments must be started within a few days after you develop symptoms, so don't delay calling your healthcare provider.

Antibiotics are not used because they don’t work on the virus that causes COVID-19. But antibiotics may be used to treat an infection by bacteria that may happen after getting COVID-19.

Possible complications

Can include:

Bacterial infections
Ear infection
Inflammation of muscle tissues (myositis or rhabdomyolysis)
Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis)
Multiple-organ failure
Pneumonia
Sepsis
Sinus infection
Worsening of chronic conditions of the lungs, heart, and nervous system
Worsening of diabetes

Can include:

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Bacterial pneumonia
Heart attack
Inflammation of muscle tissues (myositis or rhabdomyolysis)
Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis)
Multiple-organ failure
Respiratory failure
Sepsis
Stroke
Worsening of chronic conditions of the lungs, heart, and nervous system
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare complication that causes inflammation of blood vessels and organs. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) has been reported but is rare.

Can include a wide array of long COVID complications:

Ongoing problems with taste or smell
Memory and concentration problems, also called "brain fog"
Post-exertional fatigue
Lightheadedness

Why getting both vaccines is important now

Getting both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines is important. They reduce your risk for serious illness or death from the flu or COVID-19. Both vaccines help protect you and others from serious infections that may lead to a hospital stay.

Date last modified: 8/27/2024