COVID-19 prevention and management measures related to lower in influenza exercise

A latest examine supplies preliminary proof of the long-term relationship between prevention and management measures and influenza transmission in China in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for the impression beneath numerous prevention and management ranges. This examine, the primary of its sort, was revealed in Well being Knowledge Science, a Science Companion Journal.

Since December 2019, numerous nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and COVID-19 vaccination have been used to stop and management the group transmission of COVID-19. Nonetheless, the connection between the altering influenza epidemic and COVID-19 prevention and management was unclear.”

Miss Zirui Guo, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking College Faculty of Public Well being

Brought on by the influenza virus, influenza is an acute respiratory infectious illness that may impose a excessive burden and result in extreme seasonal epidemics and even pandemics. Nonetheless, a marked lower in influenza exercise was registered in Japan and america, amongst different areas within the Northern Hemisphere, in early 2020. As well as, Australia, Chile, and different areas within the Southern Hemisphere shared this remark throughout their influenza season in 2020.

“The COVID-19 outbreak modified the epidemic pattern and traits of influenza, in keeping with our evaluation.” shares Professor Min Liu, writer of the article and scientist of the group talked about above.

A big lower in influenza exercise in China was noticed in the course of the 2020-2022 COVID-19 pandemic, notably in winter and spring. As well as, influenza seasonality was evident from 2010 to 2019 however absent in the course of the 2020/2021 season throughout China, whether or not north or south.

Discount of influenza viral an infection is likely to be associated to on a regular basis COVID-19 public well being interventions in China, concluded the authors after analyzing the epidemiology and seasonal patterns of influenza based mostly on the timeline of COVID-19 NPIs in place in China.

Respiratory ailments continuously happen in winter and spring when COVID-19 and influenza are likely to flow into simply. In the meantime, the resurgence of different respiratory viruses as soon as suppressed beneath COVID-19 NPIs in 2020-2021 was acknowledged worldwide. Thus, all the inhabitants has missed the chance for enhanced immunity in opposition to influenza after a protracted low flu season throughout 2020-2022. Consequently, high-risk populations, equivalent to younger youngsters and aged people, are extra weak to widespread and extreme sickness from influenza as time goes by.

To guard these weak populations, moreover growing influenza vaccine protection, efforts needs to be paid to strengthen influenza surveillance and set up a complete surveillance system for influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2.

“Given the restrictions in our evaluation, additional research needs to be carried out to substantiate our outcomes,” feedback Professor Liu. “Extra indicators, equivalent to influenza-positive price and the variety of influenza report circumstances, may complement and confirm our examine. We may even think about using totally different prediction strategies to validate our conclusions and make applicable dietary supplements sooner or later.”