Exploring the drop in flu cases during the 2020-2021 season: The Italian case study.
Ann Epidemiol
; 76: 77-82, 2022 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2082903
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To explore the 2020-2021 influenza season by describing the case of Italy.METHODS:
FluNet was searched for Italian data on virological samples. French, German, and Spanish data were collected for comparison. InfluNet was used for Italian epidemiological data on influenza-like illness (ILI). Data were extracted for the period from the 42nd week of 2020 to the 16th week of 2021 and for the previous 5-year period. The Containment and Health Index were used to describe the containment measures.RESULTS:
Among 6818 samples, 0% were positive in Italy in the 2020-2021 season (28.8% in the previous 5-year period; the percentage change in the total number of tested specimens was -51.3%). In France, Germany, and Spain, the percentage change was -23%, -7%, and -61%, respectively. The Italian ILI incidence remained below the baseline levels (mean 0.0144/100,000 inhabitants; range 0.0085-0.0204). In the previous 5-year period, the mean incidence was 0.041/100,000 inhabitants. With the increase in containment measures, a deflection of ILI incidence was described (P = .015).CONCLUSIONS:
Despite the reduced number of collected specimens compared to previous seasons and a slight rise in influenza vaccination rates, containment measures represent the most likely factor that helped to reduce cases in the 2020-2021 influenza season in Italy.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Influenza Vaccines
/
Influenza, Human
Type of study:
Case report
/
Observational study
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann Epidemiol
Journal subject:
Epidemiology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.annepidem.2022.10.001
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