What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess changes in seasonal influenza virus circulation following the implementation of widespread community mitigation measures for COVID-19 in 2020.

September 17, 2020MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportOpen Access

Decreased Influenza Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, Australia, Chile, and South Africa, 2020

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SOSonja J. OlsenNational Influenza Center EAEduardo Azziz‐BaumgartnerCenters for Disease Control and Prevention ABAlicia BuddCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Surveillance analysis reveals marked declines in influenza activity across Northern and Southern Hemispheres, indicating widespread nonpharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions suppress flu transmission.

Key Points

To assess changes in seasonal influenza virus circulation following the implementation of widespread community mitigation measures for COVID-19 in 2020.
Analyzed virologic surveillance data from clinical laboratories in the United States across the 2019–20 season and interseasonal summer period through August 8, 2020.
Evaluated World Health Organization FluNet surveillance data from three Southern Hemisphere sentinel countries (Australia, Chile, and South Africa) during June–August 2020.
In the United States, weekly clinical specimens decreased 61% (from a median of 49,696 to 19,537), and influenza test positivity dropped 98% (from a median of 19.34% to 0.33%) after community mitigation began.
U.S. summer influenza activity reached historical lows at a median of 0.20% positive tests, compared with 2.35% in 2019, 1.04% in 2018, and 2.36% in 2017.
Sentinel sites in Australia, Chile, and South Africa demonstrated very low influenza activity during their typical June–August winter peak season.

Cite This Study

Olsen et al. (2020) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ffccca7955d29dc3260fc8 https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6937a6

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Surveillance analysis reveals marked declines in influenza activity across Northern and Southern Hemispheres, indicating widespread nonpharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions suppress flu transmission.

Decreased Influenza Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, Australia, Chile, and South Africa, 2020

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Decreased Influenza Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, Australia, Chile, and South Africa, 2020

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider