{
  "id": 1879840,
  "title": "Understanding respiratory illnesses: Flu, COVID-19, or just a cold?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/understanding-respiratory-illnesses-flu-covid-19-or-just-a-cold",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-19T06:09:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/lifestyle/2026-08-19-understanding-respiratory-illnesses-flu-covid-19-or-just-a-cold/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "With winter respiratory viruses on the rise in South Africa, learn how to distinguish between flu, COVID-19, and the common cold, and understand when to seek medical help.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Flu, COVID-19 or a cold? How to tell the difference",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/flu-covid-19-or-a-cold-how-to-tell-the-difference",
        "published": "2026-08-19T03:55:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}