Reduction and persistence of co-circulating respiratory viruses during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Abstract

To evaluate the co-circulation of respiratory viruses during the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha surge, we performed a molecular respiratory panel on 1,783 nasopharyngeal swabs collected between January 15 and April 15, 2021, from symptomatic outpatients that tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in North Carolina. Of these, 373 (20.9%) were positive for at least 1 virus tested on the panel. Among positive tests, over 90% were positive for rhinovirus and/or enterovirus, either as a single infection or coinfection, illustrating persistent co-circulation of some respiratory viruses despite active infection control measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; Molecular respiratory panel; Respiratory viruses; Rhinovirus; Syndromic testing.