NorFlu Coronavirus Survey
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We need to learn more about why some people contract coronavirus easily and why some people develop severe COVID-19 disease. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health would like to gain the answers to such questions with the help of participants in the Norwegian Influenza Study (NorFlu).
5 minutes every other week
Every second week, all mothers who are participating in NorFlu will receive a text message with a link to a questionnaire about coronavirus. The questionnaire takes about 5 minutes to complete. The purpose is to monitor the incidence and burden of disease.
We know little about transmission patterns and COVID-19 disease among children. Our current knowledge is mainly based on children who have either been to hospital or who have been tested because a close contact has been infected.
“Since children may have fewer or milder symptoms than adults, it is important to gain more knowledge about children and their families, says Lill Trogstad, Project Manager of NorFlu. “Participants in NorFlu are a unique cross section of the Norwegian population, consisting of approximately 4,500 mothers and children. The mothers were pregnant during the swine flu pandemic and the children are now 9-10 years-old.”
What happens to the results?
Results from the study will be included in the surveillance of the coronavirus pandemic and updated regularly here:
- Results from the Coronavirus Survey (in Norwegian)
The data will also be used for research. When researchers compare the responses from this study to previously collected NorFlu data and biological material, we can answer important questions and gradually understand the consequences of the disease.
Some participants may also be invited to participate in studies by other institutions. The various initiatives complement each other during this important phase.
The data are collected by Services for Sensitive Data (TSD) at the University of Oslo. The researchers do not have access to personally identifiable data.
The telephone number used for contacting participants is provided by the Norwegian Digitalisation Agency (Difi).
As always, participation is voluntary.
The newsletters from the NorFlu study explain more about why we need help from NorFlu participants to gain more knowledge about the ongoing pandemic.
- Newsletters from the NorFlu study (in Norwegian)
NorFlu in the media
Bent Høie, the Minister of Health and Care Services, mentioned the NorFlu study in a press conference on 3rd April (see following link in Norwegian):
- Major survey of coronavirus symptoms among ten-year-olds (Forskning.no)
