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, Puig-Barbera, Joan, Kassianos, George, Vanhems, Philippe, Schelling, Jorg, Crepey, Pascal, Lejarazu, Raul Ortiz, Ansaldi, Filippo, Fruhwein, Markus, Galli, Cristina, Mosnier, Anne, Pariani, Elena, Rasuli, Anvar, Vitoux, Olivier, Watkins, John, Weinke, Thomas and Bricout, Hélène 2022. A comparison of coronavirus disease 2019 and seasonal influenza surveillance in five European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 16 (3) , pp. 417-428. 10.1111/irv.12941

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Additional Information:	This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
Publisher:	Wiley Open Access
ISSN:	1750-2640
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 January 2022
Date of Acceptance:	7 November 2021
Last Modified:	22 May 2023 21:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/146378

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