BACKGROUND: The emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020 and subsequent implementation of public health and social measures (PHSM) disrupted the epidemiology of respiratory viruses. This work describes the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) observed during two winter seasons (weeks 40-20) and inter-seasonal periods (weeks 21-39) during the pandemic between October 2020 and September 2022. METHODS: Using data submitted to The European Surveillance System (TESSy) by countries or territories in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region between weeks 40/2020 and 39/2022, we aggregated country-specific weekly RSV counts of sentinel, non-sentinel and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) surveillance specimens and calculated percentage positivity. Results for both 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons and inter-seasons were compared with pre-pandemic 2016/17 to 2019/20 seasons and inter-seasons. RESULTS: Although more specimens were tested than in pre-COVID-19 pandemic seasons, very few RSV detections were reported during the 2020/21 season in all surveillance systems. During the 2021 inter-season, a gradual increase in detections was observed in all systems. In 2021/22, all systems saw early peaks of RSV infection, and during the 2022 inter-seasonal period, patterns of detections were closer to those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: RSV surveillance continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with an initial reduction in transmission, followed by very high and out-of-season RSV circulation (summer 2021) and then an early start of the 2021/22 season. As of the 2022/23 season, RSV circulation had not yet normalised.
Auteur : Meslé Margaux M I, Sinnathamby Mary, Mook Piers, Pebody Richard, Lakhani Anissa, Zambon Maria, Popovici Odette, Lazăr Mihaela, Ljubović Amela Dedeić, Vukmir Nina Rodić, Altaş Ayşe Başak, Avci Emine, Łuniewska Katarzyna, Szymański Karol, Gargasiene Greta, Muralyte Svajune, Dziugyte Ausra, Zahra Graziella, Gonçalves Ana Rita, Spedaliero Tania, Fournier Guillaume, Alvarez-Vaca Daniel, Petrović Goranka, Tabain Irena, Prosenc Katarina, Socan Maja, Protic Jelena, Dimitrijevic Dragana, Druc Alina, Apostol Mariana, Kalasnikova Kate Karolina, Nikisins Sergejs, Reiche Janine, Cai Wei, Meijer Adam, Teirlinck Anne, Larrauri Amparo, Casas Inmaculada, Enouf Vincent, Vaux Sophie, Lomholt Frederikke Kristensen, Trebbien Ramona, Jirincova Helena, Sebestova Helena, Rózsa Mónika, Molnár Zsuzsanna, Aspelund Gudrun, Baldvinsdottir Gudrun Erna, Cottrell Simon, Moore Catherine, Kossyvakis Athanasios, Mellou Kassiani, Sadikova Olga, Tamm Johanna Kristina, Bossuyt Nathalie, Thomas Isabelle, Staroňová Edita, Kudasheva Lyudmila, Pleshkov Boris, Ikonen Niina, Helve Otto, Dickson Emma, Curran Tanya, Komissarova Kseniya, Stolyarov Kirill, Vysotskaya Veronika, Shmialiova Natallia, Rakočević Božidarka, Vujošević Danijela, Abovyan Romella, Sargsyan Shushan, Zakhashvili Khatuna, Machablishvili Ann, Koshalko Oksana, Demchyshyna Iryna, Mandelboim Michal, Glatman-Freedman Aharona, Gunson Rory, Karanwal Shivani, Guiomar Raquel, Rodrigues Ana Paula, Bennett Charlene, Domegan Lisa, Kalaveshi Arijana, Jakupi Xhevat, Ovliyakulova Gurbangul, Korsun Neli, Vladimirova Nadezhda
Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 2023, vol. 17, n°. 11, p. e13219
