Co‑infection between the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the influenza Type B in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Some studies have been reported the rates of co‑infection between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) and influenza virus in the different regions. In this study, we report the co‑infection rates between SARS‑CoV‑2 and influenza type B in Isfahan, Iran. Materials and Methods: All patients with a definite diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) from Isfahan COVID‑19 registry (I‑core) study were enrolled from February 2020. Results: Of the 1639 laboratory COVID‑19 confirmed in Isfahan province, only two persons were positive for Influenza B from Isfahan COVID‑19 registry (I‑core). Both patients were symptom‑free after 3 months’ follow‑up. Conclusion: During influenza season, differentiating other causes of respiratory illness from COVID‑19 is difficult, because common clinical manifestations of COVID‑19 mimic those of influenza. It seems that evaluating for co‑infection with different types of influenza viruses in patients with specific settings should be considered.