Influence of COVID-19 over seasonal influenza activity in southern India

Ferdinamarie Sharmila; S Muthamizhkumaran; Vimal Raj Ratchagadasse; Narayan Ramamurthy; Sujatha Sistla; Rahul Dhodapkar

doi:10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100531

Influence of COVID-19 over seasonal influenza activity in southern India

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2024 Jan-Feb:47:100531. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100531. Epub 2024 Jan 26.

Authors

Ferdinamarie Sharmila¹, S Muthamizhkumaran², Vimal Raj Ratchagadasse³, Narayan Ramamurthy⁴, Sujatha Sistla⁵, Rahul Dhodapkar⁶

Affiliations

¹ Regional Influenza Lab, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India. Electronic address: sharmi.jipmer@gmail.com.
² Regional Influenza Lab, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India. Electronic address: muthamizhkumaran7@gmail.com.
³ Regional Influenza Lab, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India. Electronic address: vimalrvr.jipmer@gmail.com.
⁴ Regional Influenza Lab, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India. Electronic address: vetnarayan007@gmail.com.
⁵ Regional Influenza Lab, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India. Electronic address: sujathasistla@gmail.com.
⁶ Regional Influenza Lab, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India. Electronic address: rahuldhodapkar@gmail.com.

PMID: 38246243
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100531

Abstract

Basic epidemiological data is urgently needed in order to ascertain the changes brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, and help researchers, clinicians, and policy makers in addressing these issues. Data on influenza positivity from 2009 to 2019 was collected from Regional Influenza laboratory, JIPMER. Being COVID testing centre we tested samples (2020-2023) from Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. All SARI samples which were negative for COVID-19 were subjected to Influenza testing as regular surveillance activity was suspended. On comparison we found significant reduction in detection rates of influenza A H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B (p value = <0.01).

Keywords: COVID-19; Influenza; Surveillance.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Humans
India / epidemiology
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype*
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype
Influenza, Human* / epidemiology
Pandemics
Seasons