Experts warn more cases of ‘flurona’ are likely to pop up in Australia as Covid restrictions ease

Australians are now contracting a combination of both the flu and Covid dubbed ‘flurona’ as experts warn more cases will pop up now that most restrictions have eased.

An unvaccinated Victorian woman in her 90s has been the first death linked to the illness in Australia, after she caught the flu and coronavirus at the same time.

Dr Nirvana Luckraj, the Chief Medical Officer at Healthdirect said it was likely more people would catch ‘flurona’ – a combination of both the flu and Covid – as rules around mask-wearing and social distancing have mostly been scrapped

As Australia heads into winter the likelihood of getting the flu is also much higher.

Dr Luckraj warned symptoms can be more severe in those who are struck down with both viruses simultaneously.

In Queensland 35 people have caught the illness since January, with 14 of these having to undergo care in hospital, according to recent data.

‘(Flurona) is something we should be aware of as we are being exposed to the flu again after two years of having protected ourselves from respiratory illnesses,’ Dr Luckraj told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Our immunity may have also waned.’

Both the flu and Covid have very similar symptoms, although Dr Luckraj said the effects of Covid usually last longer.