King County COVID-19 protection keeps other illnesses away

Measures to slow the spread of the new coronavirus have brought additional bonuses to Seattle and King County: reduced levels of respiratory infections of all types.

A new analysis of the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN) results shows that this year there are far fewer respiratory viruses involved in everything from colds to the flu than in 2019.

“The unmistakable contrast is due to efforts to control COVID-19,” said a blog post by Gregory Hart and Mike Famulare at the Institute for Disease Modeling.

SCAN is a project to monitor COVID-19 infection levels throughout the county. Modeled after the Seattle Influenza Survey, which began tracking various respiratory bugs in 2018, it provided baseline data and detected the first regional infection of the new coronavirus in Washington.

Volunteers wipe their noses and send samples to the University of Washington laboratory for analysis. This includes testing for multiple viruses such as rhinovirus and the common coronavirus that cause colds and stuffy noses, as well as testing for respiratory cystic virus, which is dangerous for children and the elderly.

The flu season was already over when the pandemic struck. However, after many major employers introduced a telecommuting system and the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” measures in Washington were imposed, influenza cases plummeted along with other respiratory infections.

“Obviously, it makes a lot of sense biologically,” said Dr. Steven Pergam, an infectious disease specialist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and head of infection control at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. “If you don’t get in touch with others very well, the infection rate can actually drop.”

Data also suggest that virus infections remained low thanks to state-wide mask orders imposed in late June when the county began to loosen restrictions.

“The same steps we took to prevent COVID-19-restrict activities outside the home, reduce the number and duration of close contact with others, avoid poorly ventilated spaces, and the public. Wearing a mask and washing your hands better can also help reduce the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses, “said Dr. Jeff Duchin of Seattle and King County, a health officer in public health.

Researchers write that if the COVID-19 mitigation remains unchanged from autumn to winter, the 2020-21 flu season could be fairly mild. This year’s flu season in the Southern Hemisphere has been very light so far. Probably due to coronavirus protection.

However, because people are forced to spend more time indoors, influenza and other viruses can also propagate, as they normally do when the weather is chilly. Rhinovirus positive tests are already on the rise, but levels are still lower than last year.

“The conditions most likely to impair control of influenza transmission are the same as those that impair control of COVID-19, especially when the weather is low and cold and the room becomes too crowded,” Famurale said. Said in an email. “Influenza will be more controllable while COVID-19 mitigation efforts continue.”

This year’s influenza vaccination is more important than ever, Pergam said, due to the high degree of uncertainty and the potential for duplication, confusion and interaction between influenza and COVID-19.

“We really don’t know what will happen,” he said. “Influenza is a deadly disease. What we can do to prevent people from getting sick is of great benefit to hospitals, individuals and our communities.”

Experts recommend getting shots that take weeks by the end of October. Efforts are underway this year to make vaccines more accessible, and Pelgam said he has heard from local pharmacists that demand is already high.

Many drugstore chains, including Bartell Drugs, are stepping up their vaccination programs to fill the gap left by the few workplace clinics this year. The pharmacy plans to make an appointment to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. State-wide ZOOM + Care Clinics offer 5-minute bookings with minimal contact with others.

In collaboration with Seattle and King County Public Health, the Seattle Home-Visit Nursing Association has drive-through clinics in several locations. They will be at North Seattle College until Wednesday, September 30th. From Monday, September 21st, they will be at the ShoWare Center in Kent. They accept most insurance, including Medicaid and Medicaid / Apple Health, and patients can enroll at schedule.seattlevna.com.