The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on seasonal influenza virus

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Original Article

Author Details : Aparna Pandey*, Pooja Pandey, Suman Das, Priti Agarwal, A.K. Pandey, Rajiv Mohan Gupta

Volume : 10, Issue : 2, Year : 2024

Article Page : 123-129

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijmmtd.2024.023

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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent implementation of non pharmaceutical interventions reduced transmission of Influenza viruses. The WHO has also noticed a drop-in influenza virus cases; however, it hasn't been precisely characterized. The prospect of concurrent influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks is a major concern for public health professionals. Therefore, in this study, we present our limited data on seasonal influenza activity during COVID -19 period (November 2021–October 2022).
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 100 positive and 100 negative COVID-19 cases to look for co-infection with Influenza viruses. Influenza screening was performed with multiplex real-time RT-PCR using standardized techniques for Influenza H1N1/H3N2 with Inf-B on archived respiratory samples.
Results: A total of 8% Influenza cases were found with coinfection in only 05 cases denoting a drop of influenza infection during this period. Influenza A(H1N1) was the most common influenza virus followed by Influenza B (lineage not determined).
Conclusion: The clinical outcomes of co-infections could not be anticipated and may worsen if novel COVID-19 variants continue to appear. The use of community mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely to be effective in reducing the incidence of seasonal influenza.
 

Keywords: COVID­19, Influenza Virus, Co­infection, Viral Interference, Omicron variant

How to cite : Pandey A, Pandey P, Das S, Agarwal P, Pandey A, Gupta R M, The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on seasonal influenza virus. IP Int J Med Microbiol Trop Dis 2024;10(2):123-129

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