Although travel restrictions and social measures during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic global drop in seasonal influenza cases, certain influenza lineages in specific regions kept the virus circulating and evolving, according to a new study. This was true in tropical areas with fewer travel restrictions, for example, including South and West Asia. The spread of seasonal influenza is closely tied to social behavior, particularly air travel, and to the periodic evolution of new virus strains that evade immunity from prior infections or vaccinations. In 2020, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) introduced to combat COVID-19 – such as lockdown policies, mandated social distancing, masking, and travel bans – dramatically impacted influenza virus transmission and evolution. Due to these interventions, cases of seasonal influenza caused by A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, as well as influenza B subtypes Victoria and Yamagata, declined sharply across the globe.

 

Here, Zhiyuan Chen and colleagues investigated how these changes affected the spread, distribution, and evolutionary dynamics of seasonal influenza lineages. Using a phylodynamic approach, Chen et al. combined epidemiological, genetic, and international travel data from before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic and found that the onset of the pandemic led to a shift in the intensity and structure of international influenza transmission. Although influenza cases significantly dropped globally during the pandemic’s peak, in South Asia and West Asia, regions that had relatively fewer pandemic restrictions, the circulation of influenza A and influenza B/Victoria lineages, respectively, continued. That circulation served as important evolutionary sources, or “phylogenetic trunk locations,” of influenza viruses during the pandemic period. By March 2023, as global air traffic resumed, the circulation of influenza lineages returned to pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the virus’ resilience to long-term disruption and its reliance on global air travel patterns to spread. Notably, however, the findings also show that the influenza B/Yamagata lineage appears to have disappeared since the start of the pandemic, suggesting that the lineage may have since gone extinct. “The study by Chen et al. further reinforces that nonpharmaceutical interventions can be incredibly effective in disrupting viral transmission, pathogen diversity, and antigenic evolution, and are arguably more effective than vaccine efforts alone,” write Pejman Rohani and Justin Bahl in a related Perspective.

About The Study: In this longitudinal cohort study of multiple aspects of child neurodevelopment between ages 6 and 24 months, negligible associations between prenatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and child outcomes were observed. Follow-up research is warranted to determine whether these predominantly null effects persist into later childhood.

About The Study: In this randomized clinical trial assessing simultaneous vs sequential administration of mRNA COVID-19 and inactivated influenza vaccines, reactogenicity was comparable in both groups. These findings support the option of simultaneous administration of these vaccines. 

About The Study: This retrospective cohort study with an extended follow-up period found associations between COVID-19 and the long-term risk of various autoimmune and autoinflammatory connective tissue disorders. Long-term monitoring and care of patients is crucial after COVID-19, considering demographic factors, disease severity, and vaccination status, to mitigate these risks.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, growing concerns have emerged about the mental health of children and youth. Disease, loss, and lockdowns presented young people with enormous stressors, and much research suggests elevated levels of pediatric depression, anxiety, suicidality, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. However, considerable debate remains about the nature and persistence of these symptoms. This narrative review, conducted approximately four years after the onset of the pandemic, summarizes the major findings from four years of research, including empirical studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. Studies were sourced from scholarly databases using the keywords “COVID-19”, “children”, “adolescents”, and “mental health”. The existing literature on the prevalence of depression in youth indicated that worldwide rates varied from 2.2% to 11.8% of the population, with one study revealing that one in four young people reported depressive symptoms. More specifically, 44% of youth in the United States demonstrated depression, while in China, the prevalence rate ranged from 11% to 44% of young people. Reviewed data showed that 20% of youth globally endorsed symptoms of anxiety or stress reactions, with countries such as Denmark (44%), Canada (45%), and the United States (32%) reporting extremely high rates. In the implications section, recommendations for screening and intervention procedures are outlined.

A new study led by Rutgers Health researchers has uncovered important insights into vaccination patterns among LGBTQ+ adults in New Jersey and New York. The findings, published in the journal Vaccine, shed light on disparities in vaccine uptake within this diverse population.

A study conducted by researchers from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) sheds light on public trust in COVID-19 vaccine science and its impact on vaccine acceptance in the United States from 2021 to 2023.

About The Study: In this cohort study of hospital admissions among Medicare patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, greater hospital COVID-19 burden was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital adverse effects among both patients with and without COVID-19. These results illustrate the need for greater hospital resilience and surge capacity to prevent declines in patient safety during surges in demand.