FLURONA

What Does FLURONA Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

FLURONA is a simultaneous infection with influenza and COVID-19.

More Detail...

FLURONA is a combination of the terms "flu" (a contraction of influenza) and "rona" (a contraction of coronavirus). It is an informal term for a case in which a person is simultaneously infected with both the flu and the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19. The word FLURONA entered mainstream use in January 2022, after cases were reported in the media. However, cases were detected in many countries long before the term was coined. FLURONA is not a new strain of COVID-19, it is a simultaneous infection with two separate viruses that often have similar symptoms, including:

Congestion or runny nose.
Cough.
Diarrhea.
Fatigue.
Fever or chills.
Headache.
Loss of taste or smell.
Muscle or body aches.
Nausea or vomiting.
Sore throat.

Like COVID-19 and flu, the risks and effects of FLURONA can be reduced or avoided through vaccinations, wearing a mask, washing hands, avoiding gatherings, and staying home when sick. FLURONA should not be confused with the term TWINDEMIC, which refers to the possibility of a severe flu outbreak happening at the same time as a wave of COVID-19 infections. COVID-19 "myth busters" can be found on the WHO's website at: Advice for the public: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Image for FLURONA

When I write FLURONA, I mean this:

FLURONA is a simultaneous infection with influenza and COVID-19.

Summary of Key Points

"Simultaneous Infection with Influenza and COVID-19" is, by far, the most common meaning for FLURONA when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

FLURONA
Definition:	Simultaneous Infection with Influenza and COVID-19
Type:	Word
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of FLURONA in Sentences

Here are examples of FLURONA in conversations:

Toni: Where's Jim today?
Jo: He phoned in to say he's feeling ill. He thinks he my have FLURONA.
Toni: Ha ha. Manflu more like.

Ali: What happened to your uncle, the anti-vaxxer? I haven't seen him on Facebook for a while.
Sam: He died of FLURONA.

An Academic Look at FLURONA

As it is formed by merging two words (or parts of words) into one, FLURONA is classified as a portmanteau word. It is formed by amalgamating flu (from influenza) and rona (from coronavirus). Other examples of portmanteau words are smog (smoke and fog) and brunch (breakfast and lunch).