A photo showing boxes of a combined test kit for Covid-19 and influenza was shared with the false claim on Twitter on November 27.
The tweet reads: "covid = flu and flu = covid. even the test kits admit this now."
The boxes show the logo of Fanttest, one of two combined Covid-19 and influenza self-test kits approved by Australia's drugs regulator Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The kits were approved in September following a winter surge of Covid-19 and flu cases.
Reduced mobility from two years of pandemic restrictions led to limited immunity to the common winter virus.
The TGA said the test kits would help users distinguish between Covid-19 and the flu, diseases that can have similar symptoms but different treatments.
Photos of Fanttest-brand test kits were shared with a similar claim on Facebook here and here, and on Twitter here and here.
However, scientists agree that Covid-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses.
Throughout the pandemic, AFP has repeatedly debunked similar claims they are the same disease here, here and here.
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