“Significant increase in morbidity – the virus arrived earlier than expected”

Just yesterday we published in Mako Health about an increase in the number of people applying to clinics due to sore throats and respiratory symptoms. Now it turns out that along with seasonal viruses and the budding flu epidemic, family doctors are also detecting an increase in cases of the corona virus – earlier than expected.

Hanan (pseudonym), 74 years old, was sure he had the flu. “I had a cold and I had a fever, so I did a combined test for the flu and corona and I was surprised to find out that I was actually positive for corona,” he says. Shortly thereafter he began to suffer additional symptoms. “I lost my sense of taste and smell and started coughing a lot – I literally experienced all the symptoms of the corona virus that we remember from before.”

Dr. Lee Cohen-Abraham, Klalit’s family medicine specialist in the Central District, confirms this and says that the last few days have been characterized by a significant increase in the incidence of the corona virus. “It arrived earlier than we thought,” she says. “In the clinics we see both flu and corona. People come with muscle pains, extreme weakness, colds and congestion, sore throats and more.”

“Ten patients a day in the clinic”

According to her, the first signs of an increase in the number of corona cases appeared already at the height of summer. “I think there is an early wave of Corona. Already at the end of July and the beginning of August we saw the beginning, and since then there are constantly more cases. We see at least ten patients a day, in a clinic where ten doctors work. That’s a lot.”

But the picture in the field may be wider, among other things due to the small number of tests. “People don’t do corona tests that much anymore, but among those who were tested, we saw quite a few positive ones,” says Dr. Cohen-Abraham. According to her, during August, patients who returned from vacations abroad with the virus also came to the clinic. “There are infections on flights and in homes, and now the kindergartens have also opened. When there is exposure to corona at home, children can also transmit the virus in settings.”

Dr. Ilan Yehoshua, a specialist in family medicine in the southern region of Maccabi Health Services, has recently been seeing corona patients at the clinic. “The symptoms of the corona that we observe in the field today are similar to those of other viral respiratory infections such as influenza, enterovirus and others, and they include, for example, fever, cough and sore throat.”

According to him, the tests are mainly focused on those who are in risk groups for complications, including adults over 65, immunosuppressed, babies under six months of age, pregnant women and people with underlying diseases such as heart and lung diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases and obesity. “The last patient I referred for examination was a month-old baby,” he says.

Dr. Dean Richter, Klalit’s family medicine specialist in the Dan-Petah Tikva district, clarifies that due to the lack of tests from institutions, there is an under-reporting in the official numbers, and therefore the clinical monitoring in the clinics in the community gives us an indication of the rate of spread. “Sometimes it is treated like the flu or a cold – rest at home, drink water and take painkillers – but it is important to remember that people have recovered from Corona. The disease can also cause significant complications, including pneumonia and other complications,” he says.

He recommends that at-risk populations take precautions and complete their vaccinations. “The elderly and populations at risk should positively consider wearing a mask in medical institutions and crowded spaces. This is also the stage when it is recommended to get vaccinated. The protection is built up within about two weeks of the vaccination, so getting vaccinated in September makes it possible to arrive more protected during the holidays and winter.”

The doctor recommends getting vaccinated against both Corona and the flu. “Corona is a virus that can be contracted all year round, but it rears its head especially at a time when people are more in closed spaces and at the same time other viruses are circulating. You can get the corona vaccine and the flu vaccine in the same visit – this does not affect efficiency and saves another visit to the clinic.”