Letter to the Editor: Impact of COVID-19 Prevention Methods on Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections in Taiwan

Abstract

Population Health ManagementVol. 24, No. 5 Letters to the EditorFree AccessLetter to the Editor: Impact of COVID-19 Prevention Methods on Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections in TaiwanDaniel L. Clinciu, Cheng-Hsien Chen, Jong-Yi Wang, and Garry HuangDaniel L. Clinciuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5272-1414Department of Basic Medical Science, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.Search for more papers by this author, Cheng-Hsien ChenDepartment of Optics and Photonics, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.*Correction added on August 3, 2021 after first online publication of July 14, 2021: The second author name has been corrected from Cheng-Shien Chen to Cheng-Hsien Chen.Search for more papers by this author, Jong-Yi WangDepartment of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.Search for more papers by this author, and Garry HuangAddress correspondence to: Garry Huang, PhD, Department of Health Care Administration, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing St., Xinyi District, Taipei City 110, Taiwan E-mail Address: garryhuang@tmu.edu.twhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1328-5055Department of Health Care Administration, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:18 Oct 2021https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2021.0140AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail The mandatory wearing of face masks, hand sanitizing, and technology-aided quarantines have been in Taiwan since January 2020 to protect against spreading COVID-19.1,2 It is highly likely that COVID-19 prevention methods lowered the number of infections from various common respiratory infections. Therefore, we investigated the effect of the COVID-19 prevention methods on the incidence of other common respiratory infections.Using the Taiwan National Infectious Disease Statistics System, we analyzed the incidence of respiratory infectious diseases (eg, influenza season before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, December 2019–February 2021). We looked at trends of influenza, meningitis, and gastroenteritis in Taiwan before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if Taiwan's efficient COVID-19 mandates (eg, wearing face masks in public places; hand sanitizing at the entrance of public transportation systems, supermarkets, schools, and other facilities; technology-aided quarantines) changed the trends of these common infectious diseases.3In week 52 of year 2020, almost a year after nationwide mandates for face masks, hand sanitation, and quarantines began, there were no confirmed cases of severe influenza in Taiwan. Notably, on week 2 of 2020, before COVID-19 mandates went into effect, there were 109 confirmed severe cases at the height of the influenza season. There also were 5 cases of confirmed severe viral gastroenteritis, as opposed to only 1 confirmed severe case after preventive measures were implemented. Additionally, there were 2 cases of confirmed severe meningococcal meningitis before February 2020 compared to 0 cases from February 2020 through March 2021.The Taiwan National Infectious Disease Statistics System only records severe/complicated cases of infectious diseases; thus, many cases of mild influenza and/or other unrecorded infectious diseases that likely were prevented by mandatory face masks, hand sanitation, and quarantines were not recorded. Some countries may have experienced similar trends for common respiratory infections as Taiwan. Arguably, in other countries, reduced cases of common infections also could be attributed to more people staying home because of lockdowns, and fear of COVID-19. However, Taiwan implemented no lockdowns and there was no indication that more people in Taiwan stayed home during the pandemic, as trains and buses often operated at maximum capacity and people are seen outdoors in large numbers. The reduced number of influenza infections and other infectious diseases meant decreasing health care costs and reducing the burden on the health care system.Taiwan's example could influence and benefit other nations that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, did not value the benefits of face masks during influenza season, with many places and people even now stigmatized or showing skepticism over wearing face masks in public.4 Although it seems reasonable that poorer nations initially could not afford to provide masks for everyone in the country, it is clear that the cost of face masks is lower by far than the costs of providing ventilators and other medical technologies as a result of COVID-19, influenza, and other infectious diseases. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic may have uncovered many important aspects for health care systems worldwide and population health management, especially influenza infections and other common respiratory infections.Author Disclosure StatementThe authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.Funding InformationNo funding was received for this letter.