Experts call for multi-test PCRs as thousands develop Covid-like illnesses

As borders open and restrictions ease, experts say Australia is running rife with Covid-like common respiratory viruses.

New variants of the cold and other respiratory viruses are circulating in Australia as health experts push for the rollout of a “multi-test PCR” sampling system.

GPs are reporting an increase in respiratory illnesses that have symptoms similar to Covid but where patients are testing negative on rapid antigen tests and even PCRs.

Doctors are calling for a multi-test that can identify Covid-19 and other cold and flu variations. Picture: Christian Gilles

Infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon said he suspected some symptomatic people had Covid despite testing negative on the rapid test while others could be falling ill because of unknown variants of the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, or other respiratory illnesses that are not being tested for.

“If you’re using a RAT, I’ve seen families get sick at the same time and only some test positive. It is likely a lot of these negative tests are Covid,” he said.

“But even though a reasonable proportion of these tests may be Covid, there are a lot of different viruses. We test for about 10 different ones but not all of them. We may only find the cause in only half the cases.”

As borders open, there has been a resurgence of colds and flu variants. Picture: Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Prof Collignon said the government should look into implementing multi-test PCR sampling, which checks for multiple types of viruses along with Covid, to understand the full extent of what is circulating.

“We don’t want a PCR on everyone since the management of these illnesses is the same. But we need to have proper sampling in place. We haven’t got that,” he said.

“We need to say for example the first 1000 people to come to the GP with symptoms will have a multi-test PCR so we know what’s going on.

“We have multi-test PCRs that test for 10 viruses. That is what we do inside (research) labs. We need to do this on a more systematic basis.”

Australian Medical Association president and GP Dr Danielle McMullen said there was no real way of knowing if a person is sick from the cold or Covid unless they get a test as the symptoms can be similar.

“It looks the same. Do the RAT test and if you think you’ve been in contact with a positive case, then get a PCR,” she said.

Concerns have also been raised about vaccine hesitancy for the flu because people are fatigued from getting vaccinated for Covid.

“People are a bit sick of getting jabbed but the strong advice for the flu is for vulnerable people to get vaccinated,” Dr McMullen said.

“A lot of people have been sick or isolating and had to take time off work. The last thing you want is to get the flu and be off work and unwell.”

Both experts said combined vaccines for influenza and Covid were being researched internationally but Australians would have to rely on a standard flu vaccine this year.

Dr McMullen said people can get their flu jab on the same day as their Covid booster without any issues.

“Flu vaccines are starting to arrive in practices around Australia but our best advice is to get these at the end of April so you are best prepared for the winter months,” she said.