Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Measures on Detections of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children During the 2020 Australian Winter

Daniel K Yeoh; David A Foley; Cara A Minney-Smith; Andrew C Martin; Ariel O Mace; Chisha T Sikazwe; Huong Le; Avram Levy; Christopher C Blyth; Hannah C Moore

doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa1475

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Measures on Detections of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children During the 2020 Australian Winter

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jun 15;72(12):2199-2202. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1475.

Authors

Daniel K Yeoh^{1

2

3}, David A Foley¹, Cara A Minney-Smith⁴, Andrew C Martin⁵, Ariel O Mace^{5

6

7}, Chisha T Sikazwe^{4

6}, Huong Le⁷, Avram Levy^{4

8}, Christopher C Blyth^{1

4

7

9}, Hannah C Moore⁷

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Diseases Department, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia.
² National Centre for Infections in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Perth, Australia.
⁵ Department of General Paediatrics, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia.
⁶ Department of General Paediatrics, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia.
⁷ Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁸ Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁹ School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

Public health measures targeting coronavirus disease 2019 have potential to impact transmission of other respiratory viruses. We found 98.0% and 99.4% reductions in respiratory syncytial virus and influenza detections, respectively, in Western Australian children through winter 2020 despite schools reopening. Border closures have likely been important in limiting external introductions.

Keywords: COVID-19; RSV; Southern Hemisphere; children; influenza.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia / epidemiology
COVID-19*
Child
Humans
Infant
Influenza, Human* / epidemiology
Public Health
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections* / epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2