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Abstract

Background

In South Africa, COVID-19 control measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread were initiated on 16 March 2020. Such measures may also impact the spread of other pathogens, including influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with implications for future annual epidemics and expectations for the subsequent northern hemisphere winter.

Methods

We assessed the detection of influenza and RSV through facility-based syndromic surveillance of adults and children with mild or severe respiratory illness in South Africa from January to October 2020, and compared this with surveillance data from 2013 to 2019.

Results

Facility-based surveillance revealed a decline in influenza virus detection during the regular season compared with previous years. This was observed throughout the implementation of COVID-19 control measures. RSV detection decreased soon after the most stringent COVID-19 control measures commenced; however, an increase in RSV detection was observed after the typical season, following the re-opening of schools and the easing of measures.

Conclusion

COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions led to reduced circulation of influenza and RSV in South Africa. This has limited the country’s ability to provide influenza virus strains for the selection of the annual influenza vaccine. Delayed increases in RSV case numbers may reflect the easing of COVID-19 control measures. An increase in influenza virus detection was not observed, suggesting that the measures may have impacted the two pathogens differently. The impact that lowered and/or delayed influenza and RSV circulation in 2020 will have on the intensity and severity of subsequent annual epidemics is unknown and warrants close monitoring.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2001600
2021-07-22
2024-04-25
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2001600
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Decline of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus detection in facility-based surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa, January to October 2020
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Stefano+Tempia&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Tempia Stefano</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Sibongile+Walaza&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Walaza Sibongile</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jinal+N+Bhiman&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Bhiman Jinal N</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Meredith+L+McMorrow&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">McMorrow Meredith L</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jocelyn+Moyes&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Moyes Jocelyn</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Thulisa+Mkhencele&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Mkhencele Thulisa</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Susan+Meiring&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Meiring Susan</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Vanessa+Quan&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Quan Vanessa</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Kate+Bishop&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Bishop Kate</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Johanna+M+McAnerney&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">McAnerney Johanna M</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Anne+von+Gottberg&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">von Gottberg Anne</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Nicole+Wolter&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Wolter Nicole</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Mignon+Du+Plessis&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Du Plessis Mignon</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Florette+K+Treurnicht&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Treurnicht Florette K</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Orienka+Hellferscee&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Hellferscee Orienka</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Halima+Dawood&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Dawood Halima</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Fathima+Naby&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Naby Fathima</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Ebrahim+Variava&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Variava Ebrahim</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Comfort+Siwele&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Siwele Comfort</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Neydis+Baute&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Baute Neydis</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jeremy+Nel&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Nel Jeremy</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Gary+Reubenson&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Reubenson Gary</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Heather+J+Zar&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Zar Heather J</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Cheryl+Cohen&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Cohen Cheryl</a></span>. Decline of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus detection in facility-based surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa, January to October 2020. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2021;26(29):pii=2001600. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2001600" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2001600</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 26 Aug 2020;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 19 Nov 2020 </span> </p>
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2001600
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