NPIs for COVID-19 reduces susceptibility to other similar pathogens

NEW DELHI: A study published by Princeton University, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including mandatory masks and social distancing protocols, may postpone incidents of future outbreaks. It mentioned that NPIs play a key role in keeping the spread of the pathogens causing flu, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) along with SARS-CoV-2 in check. Although once NPIs are lifted, pathogen spread may go unhindered.

The study observed that there has been a decline in case numbers of several respiratory pathogens have been observed recently in many global locations. It interpreted this reduction in susceptibility to these other diseases, such as RSV and flu as a side-effect of COVID-19 prevention mechanisms.

The researchers based their study on historic RSV data and observations of the recent decline in RSV cases. They also examined the possible impact of COVID-19 NPIs on future RSV outbreaks in the United States of America and Mexico. Bryan Grenfell, a co-author of the study, said, “NPIs could have unintended longer-term impacts on the dynamics of other diseases that are similar to the impact on susceptibility we projected for RSV.”