Human respiratory syncytial virus and influenza seasonality patterns—Early findings from the WHO global respiratory syncytial virus surveillance. Issue 6 (12th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chadha, Mandeep; Hirve, Siddhivinayak; Bancej, Christina; Barr, Ian; Baumeister, Elsa; Caetano, Braulia; Chittaganpitch, Malinee; Darmaa, Badarch; Ellis, Joanna; Fasce, Rodrigo; Kadjo, Herve; Jackson, Sandra; Leung, Vivian; Pisareva, Maria; Moyes, Jocelyn; Naguib, Amel; Tivane, Almiro; Zhang, Wenqing
• Other Names: Barakat Amal investigator.; Bhardwaj Sumit investigator.; Broor Shobha investigator.; Burmaa Alyeksandr investigator.; Campbell Harry investigator.; Coulibaly Daouda investigator.; Crawford Nigel investigator.; Fahim Manal investigator.; Herring Belinda investigator.; Nair Harish investigator.; Palekar Rakhee investigator.; Pebody Richard investigator.; Rajatonirina Soatiana investigator.; Siqueira Marilda investigator.; Smith Peter G. investigator.; Smorodintseva Elizaveta investigator.; Sotomayor Viviana investigator.; Treurnicht Florette investigator.; Vaz Miquelina investigator.; Venter Marietjie investigator.; Wairagkar Niteen investigator.; Zambon Maria investigator.
• Is Part Of: Influenza and other respiratory viruses. Volume 14:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 638
• Page End: 646
• Publication Date: 2020-03-12
• Subjects: Global Influenza Surveillance and Response network -- human respiratory syncytial virus -- influenza -- seasonality; Influenza -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Periodicals; Virus diseases -- Periodicals; Influenza, Human -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Virus Diseases -- Periodicals; Grippe -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Infections -- Périodiques; Maladies à virus -- Périodiques; 616.203
• DOI: 10.1111/irv.12726
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-2640

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes illnesses among all age groups and presents a burden to healthcare services. To better understand the epidemiology and seasonality of RSV in different geographical areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinated a pilot initiative to access the feasibility of establishing RSV surveillance using the existing Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) platform. Objectives: To describe and compare RSV and influenza seasonality in countries in the northern andsouthern temperate, and tropics during the period January 2017 to April 2019. Methods: Fourteen countries in six WHO regions participating in the GISRS were invited for the pilot. Hospitalized patients presenting with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), SARI without fever and outpatients presenting with acute respiratory illness (ARI) were enrolled from January 2017 to April 2019. The expected minimum sample size was 20 samples per week, year‐round, per country. Real‐time RT‐PCR was used to detect RSV and influenza viruses. Results were uploaded to the WHO FluMart platform. Results: Annual seasonality of RSV was observed in all countries, which overlapped to a large extent with the influenza activity. In countries, in temperate regions RSV peaked in the autumn/winter months. In Egypt, a subtropical country, RSV activity peaked in the cooler season. In the tropical regions, RSV peaked during the rainy seasons. Conclusion: Early findings from the WHO RSV surveillance pilot based on the GISRS suggest annual seasonal patterns for of RSV circulation that overlap with influenza. RSV surveillance needs to be continued for several more seasons to establish seasonality patterns to inform prevention and control strategies.