Circulation of influenza and other respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand, 2020–2021

Authors

  • Genevieve K O’Neill WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Janette Taylor Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, New South Wales Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  • Jen Kok Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, New South Wales Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  • Dominic E Dwyer Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, New South Wales Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  • Meik Dilcher Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Harry Hua Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Avram Levy PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Infection and Immunity, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  • David Smith PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
  • Cara A Minney-Smith PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
  • Timothy Wood Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Lauren Jelley Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Q Sue Huang Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Adrian Trenholme Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Gary McAuliffe Virology and Immunology Department, LabPLUS, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Ian Barr WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Sheena G Sullivan WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases and Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.3.948

Keywords:

influenza, respiratory syncytial viruses, respiratory infections, travel restrictions, health-related, physical distancing, Australia, New Zealand

Abstract

Objective: Circulation patterns of influenza and other respiratory viruses have been globally disrupted since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the introduction of public health and social measures (PHSMs) aimed at reducing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission.

Methods: We reviewed respiratory virus laboratory data, Google mobility data and PHSMs in five geographically diverse regions in Australia and New Zealand. We also described respiratory virus activity from January 2017 to August 2021.

Results: We observed a change in the prevalence of circulating respiratory viruses following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in early 2020. Influenza activity levels were very low in all regions, lower than those recorded in 2017–2019, with less than 1% of laboratory samples testing positive for influenza virus. In contrast, rates of human rhinovirus infection were increased. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity was delayed; however, once it returned, most regions experienced activity levels well above those seen in 2017–2019. The timing of the resurgence in the circulation of both rhinovirus and RSV differed within and between the two countries.

Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that as domestic and international borders are opened up and other COVID-19 PHSMs are lifted, clinicians and public health professionals should be prepared for resurgences in influenza and other respiratory viruses. Recent patterns in RSV activity suggest that these resurgences in non-COVID-19 viruses have the potential to occur out of season and with increased impact.

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Published

27-07-2023

How to Cite

1.
O'Neill G, Taylor J, Kok J, Dwyer DE, Dilcher M, Hua H, Levy A, Smith D, Minney-Smith CA, Wood T, Jelley L, Huang QS, Trenholme A, McAuliffe G, Barr I, Sullivan SG. Circulation of influenza and other respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand, 2020–2021. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 27 [cited 2024 Apr. 28];14(3):10. Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/948

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 3 (2023): July ‒ September

Section

Original Research

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