Norovirus Infections Drop 49% in the United States with Strict COVID-19 Public Health Interventions

Acta Med Acad. 2020 Dec;49(3):278-280. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.317.

Abstract

Norovirus is a substantial burden on the U.S. We compared norovirus outbreaks before and during COVID-19. There were fewer norovirus outbreaks during COVID-19 compared to a similar time period in 2019 (326 versus 638, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 public health interventions may be considered to decrease the burden of norovirus. This demonstrates the ability of more restrictive interventions to decrease other outbreaks of known or emerging viruses.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Norovirus; Public Health.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Caliciviridae Infections* / diagnosis
  • Caliciviridae Infections* / epidemiology
  • Caliciviridae Infections* / prevention & control
  • Communicable Disease Control* / methods
  • Communicable Disease Control* / organization & administration
  • Communicable Disease Control* / statistics & numerical data
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Public Health / methods
  • Public Health / statistics & numerical data
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • United States / epidemiology