1. Influenza and COVID‐19: What does co‐existence mean?
- Author
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Arnold S. Monto, Jean-Michel Heraud, Thea Kølsen Fischer, Aeron C. Hurt, Yuelong Shu, Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, John S. Tam, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health [Bangkok], Nordsjællands Hospital [Hillerød, Denmark], University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP), Unité de Virologie [Antananarivo, Madagascar] (IPM), Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP), F. Hoffmann-La Roche [Basel], University of Michigan [Ann Arbor], University of Michigan System, University of Veterinary Medicine [Hannover], Sun Yat-Sen University [Guangzhou] (SYSU), and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Hong Kong] (POLYU)
- Subjects
Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Telemedicine ,Invited Review Article ,COVID-19/diagnosis ,Epidemiology ,Emerging technologies ,030312 virology ,SARS‐CoV‐2 ,03 medical and health sciences ,antivirals ,COVID‐19 ,[SDV.MHEP.MI]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Infectious diseases ,Influenza, Human ,Health care ,Pandemic ,clinical management ,medicine ,Humans ,Coinfection/epidemiology ,MESH: COVID-19 ,MESH: SARS-CoV-2 ,Influenza, Human/diagnosis ,[SDV.MHEP.ME]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Emerging diseases ,0303 health sciences ,MESH: Humans ,Coinfection ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,MESH: Influenza, Human ,Public health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,COVID-19 ,[SDV.BBM.BM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Molecular biology ,medicine.disease ,MESH: Coinfection ,3. Good health ,Vaccination ,Infectious Diseases ,Infectious disease (medical specialty) ,[SDV.MP.VIR]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/Virology ,surveillance ,[SDV.SPEE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie ,Business ,Medical emergency ,influenza ,Contact tracing - Abstract
International audience; The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continues to have a major impact on healthcare and social systems throughout the world. As the clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19 have many parallels with influenza, it is important to ensure optimal management of both respiratory diseases as we anticipate their continued co-circulation. In particular, there is a need to ensure that effective surveillance and diagnostic capacities are in place to monitor these and other respiratory viruses, as this will underpin decisions on the appropriate clinical management of the respective diseases. As such, we propose a series of key recommendations for stakeholders, public health authorities, primary care physicians and surveillance bodies that will help mitigate the combined risks of concurrent influenza epidemics and the COVID-19 pandemic. We advocate the judicious use of influenza vaccines and antivirals, particularly among groups at high risk of complications, with healthcare workers also considered a priority for vaccination. It is likely that the increased use of emerging technologies such as telemedicine and contact tracing will permanently change our approach to managing infectious disease. The use of these technologies, alongside existing pharmaceutical strategies, will ensure that we achieve a holistic approach to the global public health measures needed to deal with the combined threat of influenza and COVID-19. Ensuring that this approach is optimal will be key as we move from a reactive pandemic response towards preparing for the long-term management of the remarkable clinical burden associated with these respiratory pathogens.
- Published
- 2020