Decreased Incidence of Influenza During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse changes in influenza detection rates of the influenza seasons 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021 and the changes in personal awareness of protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients tested for influenza virus A and B from November 2017 to March 2021 at the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University (Ningbo, China). Influenza virus A and B tested by direct RT-PCR. A small group of 100 regular participants in influenza virus detection were surveyed on the use of protective measures in four different influenza seasons. RESULTS: There were 14,902, 14,762, 25,070, and 1107 tests of influenza virus A and B in the four influenza periods, for total positive rates of 32.45%, 35.77%, 29.40%, and 0.54%, respectively. In the two periods of four influenza seasons, from November to January, the total number of influenza samples was 8530, 4980, 22,925, 868; from February to March, the number of tests was 6372, 9782, 2145, 239. Total number of tests and positive rate decreased significantly from February/March onwards of the 2019/2020 season, coinciding with the beginning of COVID-19. The proportion of people taking protective measures also increased during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 flu seasons. CONCLUSION: The influenza virus has a high incidence in this area. The diagnosis rate of influenza decreased after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic had an important impact on the detection rates for influenza virus.