Dr. Matthias Maiwald, MD, presents "Unusual re-emergence of respiratory pathogens after lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Singapore". Health Watch USA(sm) 2025 Webinar: Combating Infectious Disease Challenges. Aug. 29, 2025.
 
Abstract: Dr. Matthias Maiwald, MD, discusses the unusual re-emergence of respiratory pathogens after lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Singapore" at the 2025 Health Watch USA(sm) webinar on Aug. 29, 2025.

Presentation Summary: Dr. Matthias Maiwald presented an in-depth analysis of the trends in respiratory pathogens in Singapore following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. Using data from 120,000 clinical samples (mainly pediatric) collected between 2019 and mid-2025, he outlined how pandemic containment measures initially caused a dramatic decrease in common respiratory viruses and bacteria, such as influenza, RSV, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

As restrictions were gradually eased, certain non-enveloped viruses like enterovirus/rhinovirus and adenovirus reappeared first, likely due to their environmental stability at phases of increased social contact. Other pathogens returned in unusual patterns—RSV and influenza A exhibited out-of-season peaks, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae resurged after a long absence, concurrent with significant outbreaks in China. The outbreaks in China had notably high rates of macrolide resistance. Some pathogens, such as pertussis, remained nearly absent throughout the observation period.

Dr. Maiwald discussed several hypotheses for these patterns, including immunity debt (reduced exposure leading to greater vulnerability), innate immune system changes, and immune dysregulation after Covid-19 infection. He emphasized that the overall burden of respiratory infections in 2025 is approaching pre-pandemic levels but may still be slightly elevated. The reemergence of pathogens was quite uneven, with some surging above historical norms and affecting different age groups or presenting more severe cases. (Summary AI Assisted)
  
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/jRwadwS31T0 
 
Health Watch USA^sm Webinar, Combating Infectious Disease Challenges. Have we gone twenty steps forward or backwards?  Aug. 29, 2025  Download Slides
   
Presentations from additional countries can be viewed at:  https://www.healthwatchusa.org/conference2025/index.html