MU study finds high prevalence of COVID-19 and flu co-infections during 2021-2022 flu season         

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered a high prevalence of COVID-19 co-infections in Mid-Missouri during the 2021-2022 flu season, with a monthly co-infection rate as high as 48% among individuals with COVID-19.  

The findings come from 462 patients at MU Health Care who tested positive for COVID-19 and were subsequently tested for influenza. Of those who tested positive for COVID-19, 33% also tested positive for the flu.  

“Co-infection in our samples peaked in October 2021 at 48% when the Delta variant was dominant, and reached the lowest point at 7.1% in January 2022 when the Omicron variant prevailed,” senior author Henry Wan, PhD, said.

Of the 462 patients infected with COVID-19, 51% had the Delta variant, while 38% had the Omicron variant. Those who were infected with the Omicron variant and those who received at least one influenza vaccine during the 2020-2022 influenza seasons were less likely to become co-infected. They were also less likely to become hospitalized.