Where has all the influenza gone? The impact of COVID-19 on the circulation of influenza and other respiratory viruses, Australia, March to September 2020

Sullivan, Sheena G.; Carlson, Sandra J.; Cheng, Allen; Chilver, Monique; Dwyer, Dominic E.; Irwin, Melissa; Kok, Jen; Macartney, Kristine; MacLachlan, Jennifer H; Minney‐Smith, Cara A; Smith, David W.; Stocks, Nigel; Taylor, Janette; Barr, Ian G.

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.47.2001847

Cited by 210 publications

(241 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…During the annual seasonal epidemics in non-pandemic years, influenza causes high burden on the population and healthcare systems of the WHO European Region [12]. The COVID-19 pandemic through 2020 and 2021 had a large impact on influenza circulation in the WHO European Region as well as globally [7][8][9][10]. This 2020/21 influenza season is exceptional since the creation of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) network in 1952 [13,14].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Very little influenza in the WHO European Region during the 2020/21 season, weeks 40 2020 to 8 2021

et al. 2021

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Between weeks 40 2020 and 8 2021, the World Health Organization European Region experienced a 99.8% reduction in sentinel influenza virus positive detections (33/25,606 tested; 0.1%) relative to an average of 14,966/39,407 (38.0%; p < 0.001) over the same time in the previous six seasons. COVID-19 pandemic public health and physical distancing measures may have extinguished the 2020/21 European seasonal influenza epidemic with just a few sporadic detections of all viral subtypes. This might possibly continue during the remainder of the influenza season.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…to decrease SARS-CoV-2 transmission also reduced the circulation of other respiratory viruses [5,6]. This was reflected by an all-time low level of influenza activity in the southern hemisphere in 2020 and elsewhere [7][8][9][10].…”

Section: The Covid-19 Pandemic and Influenza In 2020mentioning

confidence: 99%

Very little influenza in the WHO European Region during the 2020/21 season, weeks 40 2020 to 8 2021

et al. 2021

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“…Social restrictions and public health measures (e.g. social distancing and improved hand hygiene) to prevent COVID-19 transmission seemed to reduce the spread of seasonal influenza in Japan and China [5] , [6] , [7] . A study from the USA also demonstrated decreased rates of children's non-respiratory infectious diseases during social distancing [8] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the lockdown and the re-opening of schools and day cares on the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections in children – A nationwide register study in Finland

et al. 2021

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Background Nationwide restrictions started in Finland in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19, leading to school and day care closures. The aim of this study is to describe the effect of closures and re-openings on the respiratory pathogen epidemiology. Methods Laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); influenza (A & B); parainfluenza-, adeno-, and rhinoviruses; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; and Streptococcus pneumoniae in children were collected from the National Infectious Disease Register over the period of 2017–2020. Weekly incidences (weeks 1 to 35) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated per 100 000 children in 2020 and compared by incidence rate ratios (IRRs) to corresponding periods in 2017−2019. Findings The lockdown had immediate impact on the incidences of respiratory pathogens except SARS-CoV-2. Week after the lockdown began IRR was 0•3 (CI 0•3–0•4) and next week the IRR was 0•1 (0•1–0•2). The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 started to decline eight weeks after the lockdown began. The highest recorded weekly incidence of SARS-CoV-2 was 7•2/100 000 children. The effect of the lockdown lasted until late summer. Rhinovirus and SARS-CoV-2 began to increase before the schools or day cares opened in August. The re-opening of schools seemed to have no impact on the incidence of any pathogen. Interpretation Our results suggest that general social distancing, including school and day care closures, played a crucial role in reducing infections, and the effect lasted for several weeks. The re-opening of schools and day care centres seems to have had no immediate impact on the incidences of any respiratory pathogens. Funding This study had no funding source.

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“…Even with considerable testing, the average reported influenza cases in southern hemisphere countries like Australia were significantly lower with about 7,029 cases (March-September), while the average for similar periods in previous years has been 149,832. 5 In the Great Britain during the 2019-2020 influenza season, the highest percentage of weekly positive influenza tests was 104.43% (week 1, 2020), while it was 0.56% (week 1, 2021) during the 2020-2021 influenza season. Many countries, e.g., China, Russia, and Argentina, have similar trends, suggesting that the decline in influenza was a worldwide phenomenon, relatively unaffected by geography.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The reduction in influenza rates in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sabu-Kurian¹,

Shrestha²

2021

The Chronicles

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Influenza affects many lives worldwide each year during the months of October through February. The 2020-2021 influenza season saw a sharp decline in the cases reported in the United States and in other countries like Great Britain in comparison to previous influenza seasons. The most likely explanations for this decline are the safety measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as physical distancing, face mask use, and better hand hygiene in the mass population, which likely reduced the transmission and infection rates of influenza this season. Key words: influenza, surveillance, pandemic, transmission

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Where has all the influenza gone? The impact of COVID-19 on the circulation of influenza and other respiratory viruses, Australia, March to September 2020

Cited by 210 publications

References 9 publications

Very little influenza in the WHO European Region during the 2020/21 season, weeks 40 2020 to 8 2021

Very little influenza in the WHO European Region during the 2020/21 season, weeks 40 2020 to 8 2021

The impact of the lockdown and the re-opening of schools and day cares on the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections in children – A nationwide register study in Finland

The reduction in influenza rates in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic

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