key: cord-257737-obadq502
authors: Wu, Di; Lu, Jianyun; Liu, Yanhui; Zhang, Zhoubin; Luo, Lei
title: Positive effects of COVID-19 control measures on influenza prevention
date: 2020-04-10
journal: Int J Infect Dis
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.009
sha: 
doc_id: 257737
cord_uid: obadq502

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now become a pandemic threat to the whole world. At the same time, influenza virus has been active, with influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 sharing the same transmission routes. This article aims to alert clinicians of the presence of co-infection with these two viruses and to describe the effect of the measures taken to fight COVID-19 on influenza prevention and control.

J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f al. [ 4 ] have reported the case of a patient co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus. Also, Li and Wang [ 5 ] have reported the need to be alert to the superposed effect of seasonal influenza while fighting pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus.

According to the Chinese National Influenza Center, ILI activity (ILI%) in 2020 in South China was lower than that in North China from week 5 to week 10, and this situation reversed in the subsequent 2 weeks; in contrast, in 2019, ILI% was constantly higher in South China than in North China for the first 11 weeks (except for the first week of 2019) ( Figure 1A ) [Au?1]. Overall, ILI% in 2020 across the whole of China has been higher than that observed in 2019, and the same trend has been observed in the positive rate of specimens ( Figure 1B ).

[ Figure 1 here] Guangzhou City, in South China, has also seen a relatively higher ILI% over 

Summary of a Report of 72 314 Cases From the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

WHO. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report -71

Influenza update -362, based on data up to 16

Co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A Virus in Patient with Pneumonia

Be alert to superposed effect of seasonal influenza while fighting against novel coronavirus pneumonia