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Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research

Date Submitted: Sep 18, 2022
Date Accepted: Dec 4, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: Dec 8, 2022

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

The Effect of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Implemented in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seasonal Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Analysis of Google Trends Data

Ravkin HD, Yom-Tov E, Nesher L

The Effect of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Implemented in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seasonal Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Analysis of Google Trends Data

J Med Internet Res 2022;24(12):e42781

DOI: 10.2196/42781

PMID: 36476385

PMCID: 9778722

The effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on seasonal Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Analysis of archival data

  • Hersh D. Ravkin; 
  • Elad Yom-Tov; 
  • Lior Nesher

ABSTRACT

Background:

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory infection in children. Despite usually following a consistent seasonal pattern, the 2020-2021 RSV season in many countries was delayed and changed in magnitude.

Objective:

To test if these changes can be attributed to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) instituted around the world to combat SARS-CoV-2.

Methods:

We use internet search volume as obtained from Google Trends for RSV as a proxy to investigate these abnormalities.

Results:

Our analysis shows a breakdown of the usual correlation between peak latency and magnitude during the year of the pandemic. Analyzing latency and magnitude separately, we find that the changes therein are associated with implemented NPIs. Among several important interventions, NPIs affecting population mobility are shown to be particularly relevant to RSV incidence.

Conclusions:

The 2020-2021 RSV season served as a natural experiment to test NPIs that are likely to restrict RSV spread, and our findings can be used to guide health authorities to possible interventions.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Ravkin HD, Yom-Tov E, Nesher L

The Effect of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Implemented in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seasonal Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Analysis of Google Trends Data

J Med Internet Res 2022;24(12):e42781

DOI: 10.2196/42781

PMID: 36476385

PMCID: 9778722

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