An Intense Out-of-Season Rebound of Influenza Activity After the Relaxation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Restrictions in Beijing, China

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of epidemic characteristics of influenza activity pre– and post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Beijing, China. Methods Epidemiologic data were collected from the influenza surveillance system in Beijing. We compared epidemic intensity, epidemic onset and duration, and influenza transmissibility during the 2022–2023 season with pre-COVID-19 seasons from 2014 to 2020. Results The overall incidence rate of influenza in the 2022–2023 season was significantly higher than that of the pre-COVID-19 period, with the record-high level of epidemic intensity in Beijing. The onset and duration of the influenza epidemic period in 2022–2023 season was notably later and shorter than that of the 2014–2020 seasons. Maximum daily instantaneous reproduction number (Rt) of the 2022–2023 season (Rt = 2.31) was much higher than that of the pre-COVID-19 period (Rt = 1.49). The incidence of influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) were the highest among children aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years, respectively, in the 2022–2023 season. Conclusions A late, intense, and short-term peak influenza activity was observed in the 2022–2023 season in Beijing. Children <15 years old were impacted the most by the interruption of influenza circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining continuous surveillance and developing targeted public health strategies of influenza is necessary.