Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico

Introduction: Physical distancing preventive measures were implemented in Mexico as a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic. School closures occurred on March 16, 2020, in 10 out of 32 Mexican states, and one week later in the remaining states. Because the severe acute respir...

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Main Authors: Efrén Murillo-Zamora, José Guzmán-Esquivel, Ramón Alberto Sánchez-Piña, Guillermo Cedeño-Laurent, Iván Delgado-Enciso, Oliver Mendoza-Cano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2020-09-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13250
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author Efrén Murillo-Zamora
José Guzmán-Esquivel
Ramón Alberto Sánchez-Piña
Guillermo Cedeño-Laurent
Iván Delgado-Enciso
Oliver Mendoza-Cano
author_facet Efrén Murillo-Zamora
José Guzmán-Esquivel
Ramón Alberto Sánchez-Piña
Guillermo Cedeño-Laurent
Iván Delgado-Enciso
Oliver Mendoza-Cano
author_sort Efrén Murillo-Zamora
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Physical distancing preventive measures were implemented in Mexico as a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic. School closures occurred on March 16, 2020, in 10 out of 32 Mexican states, and one week later in the remaining states. Because the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the influenza virus have similar transmission mechanisms, we aimed to evaluate the impact of physical distancing on the incidence of influenza as a proxy of the impact on SARS-CoV-2 contagion. Methodology: A national flu surveillance system was cross-sectionally analyzed and daily average percent changes (APCs) of incidence rates were calculated throught Poisson regression models. Results: Greater decreasing trends (APCs -8.8, 95% CI: -12.5, -4.5; vs. -6.0, 95% CI: -9.9, -2.0; p = 0.026) were documented in the states with earlier school closures and across age groups, suggesting that earlier implementation of physical distance results in reduced SARS-CoV-2 spread. Conclusions: Physical distancing policies decrease the incidence of influenza infections in Mexico; its favorable impact on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is commendable.
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spelling doaj-art-e46b606b46854f9792d66dd1e64225332025-08-20T02:14:16ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802020-09-01140910.3855/jidc.13250Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in MexicoEfrén Murillo-Zamora0José Guzmán-Esquivel 1Ramón Alberto Sánchez-Piña2Guillermo Cedeño-Laurent3Iván Delgado-Enciso4Oliver Mendoza-Cano5Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 19, Departamento de Epidemiología, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Colima, MéxicoFacultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Colima, MéxicoDepartment of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Boston MA, USA. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Colima, MéxicoFacultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Colima, Colima, México Introduction: Physical distancing preventive measures were implemented in Mexico as a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic. School closures occurred on March 16, 2020, in 10 out of 32 Mexican states, and one week later in the remaining states. Because the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the influenza virus have similar transmission mechanisms, we aimed to evaluate the impact of physical distancing on the incidence of influenza as a proxy of the impact on SARS-CoV-2 contagion. Methodology: A national flu surveillance system was cross-sectionally analyzed and daily average percent changes (APCs) of incidence rates were calculated throught Poisson regression models. Results: Greater decreasing trends (APCs -8.8, 95% CI: -12.5, -4.5; vs. -6.0, 95% CI: -9.9, -2.0; p = 0.026) were documented in the states with earlier school closures and across age groups, suggesting that earlier implementation of physical distance results in reduced SARS-CoV-2 spread. Conclusions: Physical distancing policies decrease the incidence of influenza infections in Mexico; its favorable impact on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is commendable. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13250InfluenzaSARS-CoV-2Physical distancingCoViD-19pandemicMexico
spellingShingle Efrén Murillo-Zamora
José Guzmán-Esquivel
Ramón Alberto Sánchez-Piña
Guillermo Cedeño-Laurent
Iván Delgado-Enciso
Oliver Mendoza-Cano
Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Influenza
SARS-CoV-2
Physical distancing
CoViD-19
pandemic
Mexico
title Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico
title_full Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico
title_fullStr Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico
title_short Physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mexico
title_sort physical distancing reduced the incidence of influenza and supports a favorable impact on sars cov 2 spread in mexico
topic Influenza
SARS-CoV-2
Physical distancing
CoViD-19
pandemic
Mexico
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/13250
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