An Intense Out-of-Season Rebound of Influenza Activity After the Relaxation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Restrictions in Beijing, China.
Open Forum Infect Dis
; 11(4): ofae163, 2024 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38585185
ABSTRACT
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of epidemic characteristics of influenza activity pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Beijing, China.Methods:
Epidemiologic data were collected from the influenza surveillance system in Beijing. We compared epidemic intensity, epidemic onset and duration, and influenza transmissibility during the 2022-2023 season with pre-COVID-19 seasons from 2014 to 2020.Results:
The overall incidence rate of influenza in the 2022-2023 season was significantly higher than that of the pre-COVID-19 period, with the record-high level of epidemic intensity in Beijing. The onset and duration of the influenza epidemic period in 2022-2023 season was notably later and shorter than that of the 2014-2020 seasons. Maximum daily instantaneous reproduction number (Rt) of the 2022-2023 season (Rt = 2.31) was much higher than that of the pre-COVID-19 period (Rt = 1.49). The incidence of influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) were the highest among children aged 0-4 years and 5-14 years, respectively, in the 2022-2023 season.Conclusions:
A late, intense, and short-term peak influenza activity was observed in the 2022-2023 season in Beijing. Children <15 years old were impacted the most by the interruption of influenza circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining continuous surveillance and developing targeted public health strategies of influenza is necessary.
Texto completo:
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Open Forum Infect Dis
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos