NNA – Ministry of Public Health’s media office issued a clarification statement on Thursday, explaining that "recording cases of double infection, i.e. influenza virus and SARS-CoV2 virus, is expected and not worrisome since double infections with respiratory viruses are normal and can occur."

The statement added that "in Lebanon, as in the rest of the world, cases of double infection have been detected, and according to the routine procedures adopted, samples of infected cases are examined at the National Influenza Center. Additionally, the Public Health Ministry sends samples of infected cases to a reference laboratory in the United Kingdom for examination, in accordance with the quality control and strain exchange program which has been in place since 2015.”

=========R.Sh.