Impact of Social Distancing and Travel Restrictions on Non-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Non-COVID-19) Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Young Children in Rural Alaska

Leisha D Nolen; Sara Seeman; Dana Bruden; Joe Klejka; Chris Desnoyers; James Tiesinga; Rosalyn Singleton

doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa1328

Impact of Social Distancing and Travel Restrictions on Non-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Non-COVID-19) Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Young Children in Rural Alaska

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jun 15;72(12):2196-2198. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1328.

Authors

Leisha D Nolen¹, Sara Seeman¹, Dana Bruden¹, Joe Klejka², Chris Desnoyers², James Tiesinga³, Rosalyn Singleton^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Arctic Investigations Program, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
² Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Bethel, Alaska, USA.
³ Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.

Abstract

Hospitalizations due to non-coronavirus disease 2019 (non-COVID-19) respiratory illnesses decreased dramatically after social distancing was implemented in a high-risk population in rural Alaska; an unprecedented decline compared to the past 10 respiratory seasons. This demonstrates the potential secondary benefits of implementing social distancing and travel restrictions on respiratory illnesses.

Keywords: RSV; respiratory illness; social distancing; travel restriction.

Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2020.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Alaska / epidemiology
COVID-19*
Child
Child, Preschool
Hospitalization
Hospitals
Humans
Physical Distancing*