As someone whose family hails from Taiwan, I’ve spent several summers there immersing my children in the language and culture. This background has made me more accustomed to wearing masks compared to the average American. Therefore, it didn’t surprise me to discover that since the onset of the pandemic, the transmission rates of nearly all respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, aside from COVID-19, have plummeted.
As of February 4, 2021, Taiwan reported only 9 COVID-19 deaths. My relatives had warned me against traveling there last summer due to safety concerns, but it turns out that the real crisis was in the U.S.
Experts believe that the global lockdown and preventive measures like social distancing, wearing masks, and frequent hand washing have effectively curtailed the spread of the coronavirus. Moreover, other viruses, including influenza A and B, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, and human metapneumovirus have also seen significant declines. Bacterial infections like whooping cough and pneumonia have been reported less frequently as well.
To illustrate, the CDC reported that in the third week of December 2019, 16.2% of samples tested positive for influenza A in the U.S. However, during the same period in December 2020, that figure dropped to 0.3%. Lynnette Brammer, a leader in the CDC’s Domestic Influenza Surveillance team, remarked, “This is my 30th flu season. I never would have expected to see flu activity this low.”
In August 2020, the CDC alerted healthcare providers and parents about a potential peak in cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare illness linked to enterovirus-D68. This condition had previously peaked every other year in the U.S. between August and November since 2014. However, in 2020, only 29 cases were reported compared to previous years, which saw 120 in 2014, 153 in 2016, and 238 in 2018.
Dr. Kevin Messacar, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, noted, “We haven’t had any specimen positive for [enterovirus] D68 … at our site in Colorado since July, and my colleagues around the country also saw very little.” He added that common childhood infections leading to hospitalization, such as influenza and RSV, have also decreased significantly.
The CDC has documented similar declines across various viruses, including norovirus and other common coronaviruses.
While non-pharmaceutical interventions are vital, they aren’t the sole reason for this trend. Increased flu vaccinations played a role, with a record 192.5 million doses distributed in the U.S. during the 2020 flu season, although some groups, like non-Hispanic Black adults and children, had lower vaccination rates.
Additionally, the lack of international travel has contributed to decreased flu rates, as noted by virologist Richard Webby from St. Jude’s Hospital, who suggested that the flu typically spreads globally, following winter seasons.
Moreover, a study published in October 2020 highlighted that infection by one virus can enhance the immune system’s response to block others. This phenomenon, known as viral interference, could explain why fewer children are becoming ill with COVID-19, as the rhinovirus remains one of the few circulating viruses.
So, if these safety measures are reducing other viral infections, why is COVID-19 still spreading? The reality is that common respiratory viruses are endemic, meaning many people have already developed some immunity to them. In contrast, COVID-19 is a new virus, making it harder for the population to build defenses against it, thereby necessitating stricter social distancing measures.
Moreover, epidemiologists are concerned that the prolonged lack of exposure to common viruses might decrease herd immunity, potentially leading to increased outbreaks once normal activities resume.
Personally, I advocate for maintaining some social distancing practices even after the pandemic transitions to a more manageable phase. The convenience of curbside pickups and enhanced delivery options should continue post-pandemic. As for masks, I plan to follow in the footsteps of my Taiwanese family and integrate them into our lifestyle moving forward.
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Summary:
The pandemic has led to a dramatic reduction in the spread of various viruses, excluding COVID-19. Experts attribute this decline to measures like mask-wearing and social distancing, alongside increased flu vaccinations and decreased international travel. However, COVID-19 remains a challenge due to its novelty, and there are concerns about future outbreaks of other viruses once normal activities resume. Maintaining some preventive measures could benefit public health in the long run.
Keyphrase: Effects of the pandemic on virus transmission
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