Precipitous Fall in Common Respiratory Viral Infections During COVID-19

Abstract In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we were surprised to find that all other respiratory viral infections fell precipitously. The difference in respiratory viral infections during the 16-week period of our peak COVID-19 activity in 2020 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weeks 14–29) was significantly lower than during the same period in the previous 4 years (a total of 4 infections vs an average of 138 infections; P < .0001). We attribute this to widespread use of public health interventions including wearing face masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and stay-at-home orders. As these interventions are usually ignored by the community during most influenza seasons, we anticipate that their continued use during the upcoming winter season could substantially blunt the case load of influenza and other respiratory viral infections.

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Significant and sustained decrease in non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viral infections during COVID-19 public health interventions.

10.1101/2021.05.11.21256147 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey D. Whitman ◽

Phong Pham ◽

Caryn Bern ◽

Elaine M. Dekker ◽

Barbara L. Haller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

San Francisco ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

The United States ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Respiratory Pathogen ◽

Public Health Interventions ◽

Bay Area ◽

Respiratory Viral Infections

Public health interventions to decrease the spread of SARS-CoV-2 were largely implemented in the United States during spring 2020. This study evaluates the additional effects of these interventions on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viral infections from a single healthcare system in the San Francisco Bay Area. The results of a respiratory pathogen multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel intended for inpatient admissions were analyzed by month between 2019 and 2020. We found major decreases in the proportion and diversity of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viral illnesses in all months following masking and shelter-in-place ordinances. These findings suggest real-world effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions on droplet-transmitted respiratory infections.

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Understanding Unreported Cases in the COVID-19 Epidemic Outbreak in Wuhan, China, and the Importance of Major Public Health Interventions

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology9030050 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 50 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

Zhihua Liu ◽

Pierre Magal ◽

Ousmane Seydi ◽

Glenn Webb

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mathematical Model ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Epidemic Outbreak ◽

Public Health Interventions ◽

Model Predictions ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Parameterized Model ◽

Case Data ◽

Municipal Health

We develop a mathematical model to provide epidemic predictions for the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China. We use reported case data up to 31 January 2020 from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission to parameterize the model. From the parameterized model, we identify the number of unreported cases. We then use the model to project the epidemic forward with varying levels of public health interventions. The model predictions emphasize the importance of major public health interventions in controlling COVID-19 epidemics.

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The Effect of Contact Investigations and Public Health Interventions in the Control and Prevention of Measles Transmission: A Simulation Study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0167160 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e0167160 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Wayne T. A. Enanoria ◽

Fengchen Liu ◽

Jennifer Zipprich ◽

Kathleen Harriman ◽

Sarah Ackley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Simulation Study ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Public Health Interventions ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Contact Investigations

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The Role of Public Health Communication in Combating Vaccine Hesitancy: A Historical Comparison

Sciential - McMaster Undergraduate Science Journal ◽

10.15173/sciential.v1i5.2556 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 31-33

Author(s):

Isabel Dewey

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Science Communication ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Mmr Vaccine ◽

Public Health Interventions ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Historical Comparison ◽

The Difference

In the current COVID-19 global health crisis, discussions of vaccine safety and hesitancy are being brought to light, as they were during many historical pandemics. In order to suggest effective public health interventions, it is important to examine the historically conventional interventions implemented during previous pandemics. In this review, the governmental role and communication strategies during the smallpox and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine hesitancies are compared. Specifically, it assesses how these factors may have contributed to vaccine hesitancy and the difference in outcomes. This discussion emphasizes the importance of effective science communication and public health interventions in the prevention and eradication of diseases.

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COVID-19 Pandemic: Questioning Conspiracy Theories, Beliefs or Claims that Have Potential Negative Impact on Public Health Interventions and Proposal for Integrated Communication and Information Dissemination Strategies (ICIDS)

Journal of Development and Communication Studies ◽

10.4314/jdcs.v8i1.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Aceme Nyika ◽

Geraldine Taponeswa Nyika ◽

Jeffrey Tonderai Nyika ◽

Jeremy Tashinga Nyika ◽

Trenah Nyika

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Information Dissemination ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Public Health Interventions ◽

Conspiracy Theories ◽

The World ◽

Integrated Communication

The COVID-19 outbreak that started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 spread across the world causing a pandemic that infected and killed thousands of people globally. Countries made frantic efforts to put in place measures to curb the spread of the viral infections. The measures included social distancing, regular washing of hands with soap, applying sanitizers to hands and surfaces, use of personal protective equipment, screening, testing, isolation of suspected cases, quarantine of cases, lockdowns, treatment of cases and controlled burial of deceased cases.Almost all affected countries experienced four main hindrances to their efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic; (i) challenges in implementing preventative measures effectively, (ii) health care delivery systems that could not cope with the pandemic, (iii) limited resources, and (iv) negative socio-economic impact caused by the pandemic. One of the challenges that hindered efforts to prevent the spread of the pandemic or to manage it are various conspiracy theories, beliefs, and or unproven claims, some of which are contradictory, that were circulated across the world.2This article gives an overview of the covid-19 pandemic, some conspiracy theories, beliefs and claims that were circulated as unofficial information, and questions the unofficial information. The article ends with an outline of some potential negative impact of conspiracy theories, beliefs and claims on public health interventions aimed at controlling the pandemic. In order to counter disinformation and misinformation, the article recommends the establishment of well-coordinated Integrated Communication and Information Dissemination Strategies (ICIDS) at global, continental, regional and national levels.

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Decline in COPD Admissions During the COVID-19 Pandemic Associated with Lower Burden of Community Respiratory Viral Infections

10.1101/2021.05.18.21257383 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer Y So ◽

Nathan N O'Hara ◽

Blaine Kenaa ◽

John G Williams ◽

Christopher L DeBorja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Control Measures ◽

Copd Exacerbations ◽

Health Measures ◽

Regional Center ◽

Before And After ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Respiratory Viral Infections

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread implementation of public health measures, such as stay-at-home orders, social distancing, and masking mandates. In addition to decreasing spread of SARS-CoV2, these measures also impact the transmission of seasonal viral pathogens, which are common triggers of COPD exacerbations. Whether reduced viral prevalence mediates reduction in COPD exacerbation rates is unknown. Methods: We performed retrospective analysis of data from a large, multicenter healthcare system to assess admission trends associated with community viral prevalence and with initiation of COVID-19 pandemic control measures. We applied difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis to compare season-matched weekly frequency of hospital admissions for COPD before and after implementation of public health measures for COVID-19. Community viral prevalence was estimated using regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention test positivity data and correlated to COPD admissions. Results: Data involving 4,422 COPD admissions demonstrated a season-matched 53% decline in COPD admissions during COVID-19 pandemic, which correlated to community viral burden (r=0.73; 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.78) and represented a 36% greater decline over admission frequencies observed in other medical conditions less affected by respiratory viral infections (IRR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.71, p<0.001). The post-COVID-19 decline in COPD admissions was most pronounced in patients with fewer comorbidities and without recurrent admissions. Conclusion: The implementation of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased COPD admissions. These changes are plausibly explained by reduced prevalence of seasonal respiratory viruses.

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