Abrupt termination of the 2019/20 influenza season following preventive measures against COVID-19 in Denmark, Norway and Sweden
Emborg, Hanne-Dorthe ; Carnahan, AnnaSara ; Bragstad, Karoline ; Trebbien, Ramona ; Brytting, Mia ; Hungnes, Olav ; Byström, Emma LU
and Vestergaard, Lasse S
(2021)
In Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin
26(22).
- Abstract
Background
In mid-March 2020, a range of public health and social measures (PHSM) against the then new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were implemented in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Aim
We analysed the development of influenza cases during the implementation of PHSM against SARS-CoV-2 in the Scandinavian countries.
Method
Based on the established national laboratory surveillance of influenza, we compared the number of human influenza cases in the weeks immediately before and after the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 PHSM by country. The 2019/20 influenza season was compared with the five previous seasons.
Results
A dramatic reduction in influenza cases was seen in all three countries, with only a... (More)
Background
In mid-March 2020, a range of public health and social measures (PHSM) against the then new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were implemented in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Aim
We analysed the development of influenza cases during the implementation of PHSM against SARS-CoV-2 in the Scandinavian countries.
Method
Based on the established national laboratory surveillance of influenza, we compared the number of human influenza cases in the weeks immediately before and after the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 PHSM by country. The 2019/20 influenza season was compared with the five previous seasons.
Results
A dramatic reduction in influenza cases was seen in all three countries, with only a 3- to 6-week duration from the peak of weekly influenza cases until the percentage dropped below 1%. In contrast, in the previous nine influenza seasons, the decline from the seasonal peak to below 1% of influenza-positive samples took more than 10 weeks.
Conclusions
The PHSM against SARS-CoV-2 were followed by a dramatic reduction in influenza cases, indicating a wider public health effect of the implemented measures.
(Less)
- author
- Emborg, Hanne-Dorthe
; Carnahan, AnnaSara
; Bragstad, Karoline
; Trebbien, Ramona
; Brytting, Mia
; Hungnes, Olav
; Byström, Emma
LU
and Vestergaard, Lasse S
- publishing date
- 2021-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- COVID-19, Denmark/epidemiology, Humans, Influenza, Human/epidemiology, Norway/epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2, Scandinavian and Nordic Countries, Seasons, Sweden/epidemiology
- in
- Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 22
- publisher
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:34085632
- scopus:85107563561
- ISSN
- 1560-7917
- DOI
- 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.22.2001160
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 9222c718-6163-4b5e-ac72-59737a4dadcb
- date added to LUP
- 2024-04-29 11:26:54
- date last changed
- 2024-05-28 06:15:03
@article{9222c718-6163-4b5e-ac72-59737a4dadcb,
abstract = {{<p>Background</p><p>In mid-March 2020, a range of public health and social measures (PHSM) against the then new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were implemented in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.</p><p>Aim</p><p>We analysed the development of influenza cases during the implementation of PHSM against SARS-CoV-2 in the Scandinavian countries.</p><p>Method</p><p>Based on the established national laboratory surveillance of influenza, we compared the number of human influenza cases in the weeks immediately before and after the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 PHSM by country. The 2019/20 influenza season was compared with the five previous seasons.</p><p>Results</p><p>A dramatic reduction in influenza cases was seen in all three countries, with only a 3- to 6-week duration from the peak of weekly influenza cases until the percentage dropped below 1%. In contrast, in the previous nine influenza seasons, the decline from the seasonal peak to below 1% of influenza-positive samples took more than 10 weeks.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The PHSM against SARS-CoV-2 were followed by a dramatic reduction in influenza cases, indicating a wider public health effect of the implemented measures.</p>}},
author = {{Emborg, Hanne-Dorthe and Carnahan, AnnaSara and Bragstad, Karoline and Trebbien, Ramona and Brytting, Mia and Hungnes, Olav and Byström, Emma and Vestergaard, Lasse S}},
issn = {{1560-7917}},
keywords = {{COVID-19; Denmark/epidemiology; Humans; Influenza, Human/epidemiology; Norway/epidemiology; SARS-CoV-2; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Seasons; Sweden/epidemiology}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{22}},
publisher = {{European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)}},
series = {{Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin}},
title = {{Abrupt termination of the 2019/20 influenza season following preventive measures against COVID-19 in Denmark, Norway and Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.22.2001160}},
doi = {{10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.22.2001160}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2021}},
}