A retrospective analysis of respiratory virus transmission before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pune the western region of India.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and quickly spread across the world. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are the key to control the transmission of respiratory viruses. To stop the spread, NPI is widely recommended and is still followed by most countries. Methods: At the National Influenza Center of the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), the surveillance of severe acute respiratory illness and acute respiratory illness cases for influenza and other respiratory viruses is in place. In this study, we analyzed surveillance data on respiratory viruses and/or SARS-CoV-2 testing from January 2017 to December 2021. Multiplex real-time PCR was used to detect the respiratory viruses. Results: Our findings indicate that during the pandemic, the positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human coronavirus declined significantly. Conclusion: The annual distinct seasonal outbreaks of influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses as observed during the pre-COVID-19 period were not observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in years 2020 and 21. Social distancing, lock-downs, and non-pharmaceutical interventions may play an important role in the reduction of respiratory viruses. Understanding the seasonal respiratory virus decline could help public health experts prepare for future respiratory virus pandemics.

Rotavirus Infections in Children Vaccinated Against Rotavirus in Pune, Western India.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize rotavirus infections detected in rotavirus vaccinated children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis. DESIGN: Observational, hospital-based study. SETTING: Three hospitals in Pune, Western India. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged <5 years hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis during 2013-14. METHODS: Rotavirus capture ELISA was performed on all stool samples that were collected from patients following informed consent from parents. VP7 and VP4 genes of rotavirus strains were genotyped by multiplex RT-PCR. Stool samples from vaccinated children were tested for other enteric viruses. RESULTS: Among the 529 children, 53 were vaccinated with at least one dose of the rotavirus vaccine. There was no difference in the mean (SD) (months) age of vaccinated [14.8 (10.6)] and unvaccinated [14.4 (10.5)] children. Rotavirus positivity was significantly higher (47%) in unvaccinated than in vaccinated (28.3%) children (P=0.01). Mean Vesikari score and severe cases were significantly more in rotavirus positive than in negative children within unvaccinated group (P<0.001), while these did not differ within the vaccinated group. Rotavirus strain G1P[8] was identified as the most prevalent strain in both, vaccinated (60%) and unvaccinated (72.8%) groups. No association was found between mean Vesikari score and viral coinfections. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests decline in rotavirus positivity in rotavirus-vaccinated children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis and high prevalence of G1P[8] and non-rotaviral co-infections in Pune, Western India.