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A comparison of coronavirus disease 2019 and seasonal influenza surveillance in five European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.


ABSTRACT:

Background

In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak that unfolded across Europe in 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for repurposing existing influenza surveillance systems to monitor COVID-19. This analysis aimed to compare descriptively the extent to which influenza surveillance systems were adapted and enhanced and how COVID-19 surveillance could ultimately benefit or disrupt routine influenza surveillance.

Methods

We used a previously developed framework in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom to describe COVID-19 surveillance and its impact on influenza surveillance. The framework divides surveillance systems into seven subsystems and 20 comparable outcomes of interest and uses five evaluation criteria based on WHO guidance. Information on influenza and COVID-19 surveillance systems were collected from publicly available resources shared by European and national public health agencies.

Results

Overall, non-medically attended, virological, primary care and mortality surveillance were adapted in most countries to monitor COVID-19, although community, outbreak and hospital surveillance were reinforced in all countries. Data granularity improved, with more detailed demographic and medical information recorded. A shift to systematic notification for cases and deaths enhanced both geographic and population representativeness, although the sampling strategy benefited from the roll out of widespread molecular testing. Data communication was greatly enhanced, contributing to improved public awareness.

Conclusions

Well-established influenza surveillance systems are a key component of pandemic preparedness, and their upgrade allowed European countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, uncertainties remain on how both influenza and COVID-19 surveillance can be jointly and durably implemented.

SUBMITTER: Rigoine de Fougerolles T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8983920 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A comparison of coronavirus disease 2019 and seasonal influenza surveillance in five European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Rigoine de Fougerolles Thierry T   Puig-Barbera Joan J   Kassianos George G   Vanhems Philippe P   Schelling Jorg J   Crepey Pascal P   de Lejarazu Raul Ortiz RO   Ansaldi Filippo F   Fruhwein Markus M   Galli Cristina C   Mosnier Anne A   Pariani Elena E   Rasuli Anvar A   Vitoux Olivier O   Watkins John J   Weinke Thomas T   Bricout Hélène H  

Influenza and other respiratory viruses 20211205 3


<h4>Background</h4>In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak that unfolded across Europe in 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for repurposing existing influenza surveillance systems to monitor COVID-19. This analysis aimed to compare descriptively the extent to which influenza surveillance systems were adapted and enhanced and how COVID-19 surveillance could ultimately benefit or disrupt routine influenza surveillance.<h4>Methods</h4>We used a previously developed  ...[more]

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