COVID-19 prevention strategies may have led to a reduction in common respiratory diseases

Mask consumption and body speed – two major disease prevention strategies implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19 – may have led to a significant reduction in the rates of common respiratory viral diseases, such as the flu large. A study led by researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) showed an approximately 80 percent reduction in cases of flu and other common viral respiratory diseases compared to similar time periods in previous years, before masks, physical speed, and enforce school closures. to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Published online in Infectious diseases open forum, these results suggest that public health measures used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may be useful in helping to prevent other respiratory viral infections.

We know that viruses that cause the common cold and pneumonia are spread through close contact, aerosols and / or droplets, which is why we decided to investigate how the measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 affect other common frequencies. viral respiratory diseases. “

Manish Sagar, MD, Physician and Researcher of Infectious Diseases at BMC and Corresponding Author of the Study

In this consortium analysis, the researchers analyzed recorded respiratory viral infections (patient and patient) at BMC for specific periods between January 1, 2015 and November 25, 2020. These diseases were confirmed using a respiratory panel polymerase chain reaction test, which scans for 20 common respiratory pathogens, and positive results were recorded. Positive and negative results for SARS-CoV-2 tests were excluded from the study because there was a focus on other common respiratory diseases before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The year 2020 has been divided into two distinct periods. The first, referred to as Time 1, represents the period before mask wear, body speed and school closures are implemented (Weeks 1-10 from 1 January – 10 March 2020). The second, dubbed Time 2, represents the period after the implementation of these practices to stop the release of COVID-19 (Weeks 11-46, March 11 – November 25, 2020) . The researchers analyzed the number of viral infections during periods 1 and 2 for 2015 – 2019 and compared them to the 2020 results.

In 2020 period 2, after measures were taken to stop COVID-19, recently detected respiratory viruses were about 80 percent lower compared to the same period from 2015 to 2019. In contrast, in 2020 period 1, prior to COVID-19 prevention measures, there were more respiratory virus infections compared to 2015 to 2019. In addition, the reopening was gradual in Boston, which occurred around 20 July 2020, associated with an increase in the detection of rhinovirus infections.

“The results of our study may be particularly helpful in developing prevention strategies in situations where respiratory diseases are highly harmful, such as congenital conditions and for the elderly and vaccines,” said Sagar, senior. professor of medicine and microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine.