A Silver Lining? Fewer Non–Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Respiratory Viruses During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. (4th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Most, Zachary M; Holcomb, Michael; Jamieson, Andrew R; Perl, Trish M
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 224:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: 1751
• Page End: 1755
• Publication Date: 2021-06-04
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- respiratory virus -- nonpharmaceutical interventions -- seasonal respiratory viruses; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab191
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have "flattened the curve" of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; however the effect of these interventions on other respiratory viruses is unknown. We used aggregate level case count data for 8 respiratory viruses and compared the institutional and statewide case counts before and during the period that NPIs were active. We observed a 61% decrease (incidence rate ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, .37–.41; P < .001) in non–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 respiratory viral infections when NPIs were implemented. This finding, if further verified, should guide future public health initiatives to mitigate viral epidemics. Abstract : Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) have substantially reduced the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We found that NPIs have substantially reduced the incidence of other respiratory viruses as well.