Why Many People Misunderstand the Severity of Coronavirus Compared to the Flu

There is a pervasive misconception that the coronavirus is not more deadly than the flu due to its higher death rate. This belief stems from a misunderstanding of how the coronavirus and influenza operate, as well as some other confounding factors. In reality, the coronavirus is just a serious upper respiratory viral infection and, when compared to the flu, its severity can be better understood through a lens of immunity, infection patterns, and ongoing viral evolution.

Coronavirus vs. Influenza: A Tale of Severity

At its core, the coronavirus, much like influenza (flu), is a viral respiratory infection. However, the initial perception that the coronavirus was more dangerous is largely due to its novel nature and high infectiousness. Unlike the common flu, the coronavirus is entirely foreign to most of the human population, meaning that we lack natural immunity to it. This lack of immunity, paired with its high contagiousness, initially made the coronavirus seem more threatening.

The Role of Chronic Diseases

Another significant factor contributing to the increased perception of the coronavirus's severity is the role of underlying chronic diseases. During the initial phase of the coronavirus epidemic, many individuals who died had chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, or other age-related illnesses. These pre-existing conditions made them more susceptible to hospitalization, and during their stay, they were tested for the coronavirus. This testing practice led to the assumption that the coronavirus was the direct cause of death, when in reality, it was often the underlying condition that was fatal. The virus merely provided the diagnostic evidence, but not necessarily the actual cause of death.

Global Immunity Shift

The situation changed drastically as more and more people became infected over the initial phase of the pandemic. In the first year, billions of people were infected but were not tested due to a shortage of testing resources. Many of these cases were asymptomatic or mild, consistent with the characteristics of the common cold caused by other coronaviruses. This period marked the beginning of global immunity against the coronavirus, as most individuals had been exposed and developed some level of immunity.

Antigenic Drift and Endemicity

It is important to note that coronaviruses, including the kind that causes the common cold, undergo a process known as antigenic drift. This means that the virus constantly changes over time, and people get infected repeatedly. However, because of frequent exposure, our immunity remains relatively effective against the latest changes in the virus. This is why the coronavirus, like its predecessors, may become an endemic part of our environment, causing milder symptoms year after year. This phenomenon is the same for the latest coronavirus variant as well as the other five coronaviruses that cause common colds.

Flu and Its Complexity

Conversely, influenza viruses, while also highly infectious, are more severe and therefore result in higher mortality rates. The flu virus can cause serious complications, and those who are infected are often more susceptible to severe outcomes, especially if they are older or have pre-existing conditions. However, the flu virus does not undergo the same degree of change as the coronavirus (antigenic shift rather than drift), making it more stable in its virulence.

Conclusion

It is crucial to understand that the coronavirus is not inherently more severe than the flu when it comes to mortality rates. What makes the coronavirus seem more dangerous is a combination of novelty, high infectiousness, and the lack of natural immunity in the population. As time progresses and more people become immune, the severity of the virus decreases significantly. This is further compounded by the ongoing changes in the virus due to antigenic drift, which ensures that the virus remains a manageable public health concern rather than a deadly threat.

The key takeaway is that both the coronavirus and the flu are viral respiratory infections, and their severity can be understood through a combination of immunity, infection patterns, and viral evolution. Understanding these concepts can help dispel some of the misunderstandings surrounding the coronavirus and provide a clearer picture of its true impact.