Global patterns and drivers of influenza decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The influenza circulation reportedly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries. The occurrence of this change has not been studied worldwide nor its potential drivers.

Methods

The change in the proportion of positive influenza samples reported by country and trimester was computed relative to the 2014-2019 period using the FluNet database. Random forests were used to determine predictors of change from demographical, weather, pandemic preparedness, COVID-19 incidence, and pandemic response characteristics. Regression trees were used to classify observations according to these predictors.

Results

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the influenza decline relative to prepandemic levels was global but heterogeneous across space and time. It was more tha

SUBMITTER: Bonacina F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9809002 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature