Decreased incidence of enterovirus and norovirus infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria, Australia, 2020

Authors

  • Leesa D Bruggink Enteric Virus Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
  • Arnau Garcia-Clapes Enteric Virus Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
  • Thomas Tran Viral Identification Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
  • Julian D Druce Viral Identification Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
  • Bruce R Thorley Enteric Virus Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2021.45.5

Keywords:

enterovirus, norovirus, Victoria, incidence, Covid-19

Abstract

Significant reductions in the incidence of enteroviruses and noroviruses, both transmitted primarily by the faecal-oral route, were noted in 2020 compared to the previous decade, in Victoria, Australia. The enterovirus specimen positivity rate was reduced by 84.2% in 2020, while the norovirus outbreak positivity rate declined by 49.0%. The most likely explanation for these reductions is the concurrence of social restrictions, physical distancing, personal hygiene awareness and international and domestic border closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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References

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Published

29/01/21

How to Cite

Bruggink, Leesa D, Arnau Garcia-Clapes, Thomas Tran, Julian D Druce, and Bruce R Thorley. 2021. “Decreased Incidence of Enterovirus and Norovirus Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Victoria, Australia, 2020”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 45 (January). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2021.45.5.

Issue

Vol. 45 (2021)

Section

Short report

Categories

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