Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of influenza A and respiratory syncytial viruses elucidated by wastewater-based epidemiology.

ABSTRACT: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the prevalence of Influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been suggested by clinical surveillance. However, there may be potential biases in obtaining an accurate overview of infectious diseases in a community. To elucidate the impact of the COVID-19 on the prevalence of IAV and RSV, we quantified IAV and RSV RNA in wastewater collected from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Sapporo, Japan, between October 2018 and January 2023, using highly sensitive EPISENS™ method. From October 2018 to April 2020, the IAV M gene concentrations were positively correlated with the confirmed cases in the corresponding area (Spearman's r = 0.61). Subtype-specific HA genes of IAV were also detected, and their concentrations showe

SUBMITTER: Ando H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9991320 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature