# Pandemic restrictions that hampered the circulation of viruses other than COVID-19
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-12-30
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Early Rise of Respiratory Infections: RSV, Flu & COVID-19
Meta Description: Learn how pandemic restrictions are causing an early spike in respiratory infections this winter in Europe, including a possible 'tripledemic' of
URL: https://financedigest.com/pandemic-restrictions-that-hampered-the-circulation-of-viruses-other-than-covid-19html

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By Natalie Grover

LONDON (Reuters) – Pandemic restrictions that hampered the circulation of viruses other than COVID-19 could be behind the unseasonably early upsurge in respiratory infections in Europe this winter that the festive break could prolong, scientists say.

Apart from COVID-19, regulations to curb movement and social interaction limited the transmission of viruses that typically cause most infections during the colder, winter months, including influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

That created a bigger pool of susceptible people, including children born during this time, who had less exposure to these viruses.

RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can result in serious illness in older [adults and young](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-literacy-for-young-adults-essential-money-skills-for-success.html "Financial Literacy for Young Adults: Essential Money Skills for Success") infants.

This winter, health officials have warned of what has been dubbed a tripledemic of influenza, RSV and continued COVID-19 cases, adding to the [pressure on over-burdened health services](https://www.financedigest.com/88-of-financial-services-firms-in-the-uk-are-under-pressure-to-make-decisions-faster.html "88% of financial services firms in the UK are under pressure to make decisions faster").

RSV surveillance [data from 15 European](https://www.financedigest.com/european-shares-edge-higher-on-healthcare-lift-weak-china-data-stokes-worries.html "European shares edge higher on healthcare lift, weak China data stokes worries") countries spanning the pre-COVID years 2010-2011 to 2015-2016 show the median start to the RSV season is early December, and that it peaks around the end of January, the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) highlighted in a report published this month.

European trends so far suggest that this [year RSV cases peaked in late November](https://www.financedigest.com/spains-november-retail-sales-fall-0-6-on-year.html "Spain’s November retail sales fall 0.6% on year") and are in decline, but there will still be a substantial number of cases in the next four to six weeks, said Agoritsa Baka, the ECDC’s expert in emergency preparedness and response.

In Wales, for instance, there were 111.6 confirmed RSV [cases per 100,000 in children aged under five in the week ending](https://www.financedigest.com/shanghai-finds-cases-after-five-days-of-zero-covid-but-end-of-lockdown-on-track.html "Shanghai finds cases after five days of ‘zero COVID’ but end of lockdown on track") Nov. 27.

For the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 season, confirmed cases under the same parameters were below 50. In both those years, even the eventual peaks, which came a few [weeks later](https://www.financedigest.com/wall-st-seen-steady-ahead-of-inflation-data-fed-later-in-week.html "Wall St seen steady ahead of inflation data, Fed later in week"), were just short of 50.

Meanwhile, [COVID cases](https://www.financedigest.com/hungarian-doctors-warn-of-sad-christmas-as-covid-cases-soar.html "Hungarian doctors warn of ‘sad Christmas’ as COVID cases soar") have risen in recent weeks. In the [week ended](https://www.financedigest.com/european-shares-end-five-day-losing-streak-still-down-for-the-week.html "European shares end five-day losing streak, still down for the week") Dec 18, European cases rose 7% over the week prior, according to ECDC figures.

The flu upsurge began in the second week of [November in the European](https://www.financedigest.com/european-shares-kick-off-november-on-bright-note.html "European shares kick off November on bright note") region, an earlier start than the four previous seasons, the agency said.

The accumulation of more susceptible persons in the last two years, plus the increased mixing of people during the summer months (following the [easing of restrictions](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-sees-travel-recovery-as-covid-restrictions-ease.html "Europe sees travel recovery as COVID restrictions ease")) have contributed to an earlier start of the outbreaks in the current season 2022-2023,” Baka said.

“We do not have any direct reference for this statement,” she said, but cited a study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that linked sharp declines in influenza circulation in the 2020-2021 season to [COVID-19 restrictions](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-britain-scraps-all-remaining-covid-19-restrictions.html "Factbox-Britain scraps all remaining COVID-19 restrictions") in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Peter Openshaw, a respiratory physician and professor at Imperial College London, said it was plausible that limited social mixing in recent years had contributed to a “downward drift” in specific immunity to these viruses at a population level, alongside a decline in general immunological responsiveness in people.

UNKNOWN TERRITORY

With little in the way of direct comparison with the situation this year, it is unclear whether sharp peaks earlier than usual will necessarily lead to a higher total number of cases over the season, compared to [pre-pandemic years](https://www.financedigest.com/heathrow-airport-says-return-to-pre-pandemic-demand-years-away.html "Heathrow Airport says return to pre-pandemic demand years away").

But scientists are concerned that [social interaction during the festive](https://www.financedigest.com/corporate-social-responsibility-within-the-festival-industry.html "Corporate Social Responsibility Within The Festival Industry") season could lead to further increases in respiratory infections, especially as people meet vulnerable elderly relatives.

“If you’re sick – don’t go to a party. Get tested before you go visit your grandmother. And it would be prudent to wear a mask in crowded places particularly in public transport,” ECDC’s Baka said.

As an added complication, viral respiratory infections can predispose patients to bacterial infections, just when some common antibiotics that can treat them are in short [supply in Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-uniper-to-restart-coal-fired-power-plant-as-gazprom-halts-supply-to-europe.html "Germany’s Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe").

This has been [linked to increased](https://www.financedigest.com/buy-guest-post-links-to-help-increase-your-seo-ranking.html "Buy Guest Post Links to Help Increase Your SEO Ranking") demand given an uptick in severe infections caused by a bacteria called group A Streptococcus, particularly in children under the age of ten.

Supply hiccups attributed to long-standing pricing pressure on the manufacture of generic medicines in the continent that has worsened with the [energy crisis](https://www.financedigest.com/europes-energy-crisis-and-the-nuclear-path-out.html "Europe’s energy crisis and the nuclear path out") have added to the shortage.

[(Reporting by Natalie Grover in London; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Barbara Lewis)](https://www.financedigest.com/london-reclaims-place-as-preeminent-global-financial-centre-for-the-first-time-since-2013-according-to-global-regulatory-outlook-report-from-duff-phelps.html "London reclaims place as preeminent global financial centre for the first time since 2013, according to Global Regulatory Outlook report from Duff & Phelps")


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