Characterizing the interactions between influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses and their implications for epidemic control

Characterizing the interactions between influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses and their implications for epidemic control

Blog Article

Abstract Pathogen-pathogen interactions represent a critical click here but little-understood feature of infectious disease dynamics.In particular, experimental evidence suggests that influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) compete with each other, such that infection with one confers temporary protection against the other.However, such interactions are challenging to study using common epidemiologic methods.Here, we use a mathematical modeling approach, in conjunction with detailed surveillance data from Hong Kong and copyright, to infer the strength and duration of the interaction between influenza and RSV.Based on our estimates, we further utilize our model to evaluate the potential conflicting effects of live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) on RSV burden.

We find evidence of a moderate to strong, negative, bidirectional interaction, such that infection with either virus yields 40-100% protection against infection with the other for one to five months.Assuming that LAIV reduces 3 piece horse wall art RSV susceptibility in a similar manner, we predict that the impact of such a vaccine at the population level would likely depend greatly on underlying viral circulation patterns.More broadly, we highlight the utility of mathematical models as a tool to characterize pathogen-pathogen interactions.