Successful interruption of seasonal influenza transmission under the COVID-19 rapid response in Zhejiang Province, China. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, W.; Yu, Z.; Liu, S.; Sun, W.; Ling, F.; Pan, J.; Chen, E.
• Is Part Of: Public health. Volume 189(2020)
• Page Start: 123
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Influenza activity -- COVID-19 -- Non-pharmaceutical interventions -- Containment; Public health -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.10.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3506

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) introduced to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also interrupted the transmission of influenza. Study design: This is a descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: Data on changes in the number of reported influenza cases, number of influenza-like illness (ILI) visits, ILI percentage and influenza virus positivity were compared between the first 18 weeks of 2020 and the same period of 2019. Results: The changes in the weekly average number of influenza cases were statistically significant between 2020 and 2019 (−4319 vs −525 per week; P < 0.05). The slopes of regression lines for the number of ILI visits were also statistically significant between 2020 and 2019 (−911 vs −98 per week; P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study found that the prevalence of influenza was substantially decreased when NPIs were implemented for the containment of COVID-19. Highlights: The prevalence of influenza was substantially decreased when non-pharmaceutical interventions were implemented for the containment of coronavirus disease 2019. Changes in the weekly average number of influenza cases were statistically significant between 2020 and 2019 (−4319 vs −525 per week; P < 0.05). Changes in the number of influenza-like illness visits were also statistically significant between 2020 and 2019 (−911 vs −98 per week; P < 0.05).