Impact of COVID-19 Prevention and Control on the Influenza Epidemic in China: A Time Series Study

Abstract

Background . COVID-19 prevention and control measures might affect influenza epidemic in China since the nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and behavioral changes contain transmission of both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. We aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 prevention and control measures on influenza using data from the National Influenza Surveillance Network. Methods . The percentage of influenza-like illness (ILI%) in southern and northern China from 2010 to 2022 was collected from the National Influenza Surveillance Network. Weekly ILI% observed value from 2010 to 2019 was used to calculate estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of ILI% with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Time series analysis was applied to estimate weekly ILI% predicted values in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 season. Impact index was used to explore the impact of COVID-19 prevention and control on influenza during nonpharmaceutical intervention and vaccination stages. Results . China influenza activity was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and different prevention and control measures during 2020-2022. In 2020/2021 season, weekly ILI% observed value in both southern and northern China was at a low epidemic level, and there was no obvious epidemic peak in winter and spring. In 2021/2022 season, weekly ILI% observed value in southern and northern China showed a small peak in summer and epidemic peak in winter and spring. The weekly ILI% observed value was generally lower than the predicted value in southern and northern China during 2020-2022. The median of impact index of weekly ILI% was 15.11% in north and 22.37% in south in 2020/2021 season and decreased significantly to 2.20% in north and 3.89% in south in 2021/2022 season. Conclusion . In summary, there was a significant decrease in reported ILI in China during the 2020-2022 COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in winter and spring. Reduction of influenza virus infection might relate to everyday Chinese public health COVID-19 interventions. The confirmation of this relationship depends on future studies.