ABSTRACT
Stringent nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and border closures are not currently recommended for pandemic influenza control. New Zealand used these NPIs to eliminate coronavirus disease 2019 during its first wave. Using multiple surveillance systems, we observed a parallel and unprecedented reduction of influenza and other respiratory viral infections in 2020. This finding supports the use of these NPIs for controlling pandemic influenza and other severe respiratory viral threats.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/virology , Communicable Disease Control , Epidemiological Monitoring , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Influenza, Human/virology , New Zealand/epidemiology , Pandemics , Public Health , Respiratory Tract Infections/prevention & control , Respiratory Tract Infections/virology , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Stringent nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and border closures are not currently recommended for pandemic influenza control. New Zealand used these NPIs to eliminate coronavirus disease 2019 during its first wave. Using multiple surveillance systems, we observed a parallel and unprecedented reduction of influenza and other respiratory viral infections in 2020. This finding supports the use of these NPIs for controlling pandemic influenza and other severe respiratory viral threats.
