2 Years Ago 7,000 Flu Patients Annually, This Year 3,000... Only 160 If Social Distancing Strengthened

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Research Team Proves Effectiveness of Daily Quarantine Measures
"Important to Follow Principles of Mask-Wearing, Handwashing, and Social Distancing"

On the 12th, when the government eased social distancing to Level 1, citizens were waiting to get tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic set up at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] A study has found that the number of influenza (flu) patients decreased by up to 96% or more due to various quarantine measures implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This was thanks to minimizing contact with others and strictly following personal hygiene rules, providing insights into how respiratory infectious diseases should be reduced in the future.

According to a comparison of flu epidemic patterns before and after COVID-19 by the research team at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, the 2019-2020 flu season lasted for 20 weeks from November last year to April this year. Compared to the flu seasons over the past three years, it was shortened by 6 to 12 weeks. After the first COVID-19 patient was confirmed, the number of flu-related hospitalizations was 3,232, which is about a 53% decrease compared to 6,841 patients in 2017-2018.

During the period of social distancing with enhanced quarantine and hygiene management, the number of hospitalized patients was only 161, representing a 96% decrease compared to the same period over the past two years. The reduction in patients was observed not only for influenza but also for all respiratory viruses monitored by health authorities, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and human metapneumovirus.

The research team at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital recently published a study in an international journal demonstrating how the incidence of influenza patients changed before and after COVID-19 due to quarantine measures and hygiene management. From left to right: Professor Kim Hong-bin, Department of Infectious Diseases; Professor Lee Hyun-joo, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents; Professor Lee Hee-young, Clinical Preventive Medicine Center.

This study was conducted to examine how much respiratory infectious diseases can be prevented through daily quarantine measures such as wearing masks and thorough handwashing. Influenza is highly contagious and causes about 2,000 deaths annually by worsening complications and underlying cardiopulmonary diseases, but it has been difficult to prove how effective these daily quarantine measures are. This study demonstrates that such activities have sufficient scientific evidence for prevention.

In particular, the indicator 'maximum number of influenza cases per 1,000 patient visits' decreased by up to 42% during the COVID-19 period to 49.8 cases, compared to the previous range of 71.9 to 86.2 cases. Even after excluding the so-called statistical illusion that flu patients decreased because fewer people visited hospitals due to concerns about COVID-19 transmission, there was a significant reduction in patients. The results of this study were published in the international journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Professor Lee Hyun-joo of the Department of Pediatrics at the hospital, who participated as the first author of the study, said, "Public health strategies, including personal hygiene rules, are very important in suppressing the spread of COVID-19," adding, "This study proved that these measures significantly reduce the scale of infections from various respiratory viruses, including influenza, as well as COVID-19."

Professor Kim Hong-bin of the Department of Infectious Diseases, who led the research, said, "Vaccination is an effective means of defending against influenza, but it alone cannot completely block the virus," and added, "In addition, if enhanced hygiene management and public health response principles strengthened during the COVID-19 era are strictly followed, the occurrence of infectious respiratory diseases including influenza can be greatly reduced."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.