Low levels of respiratory syncytial virus activity in Europe during the 2020/21 season: what can we expect in the coming summer and autumn/winter?

• Published in: Eurosurveillance
• Main Authors: van Summeren, Jojanneke, Meijer, Adam, Aspelund, Guðrún, Casalegno, Jean Sebastien, Erna, Guðrún, Hoang, Uy, Lina, Bruno, de Lusignan, Simon, Teirlinck, Anne C., Thors, Valtýr, Paget, John, Ouziel, Antoine, Tardy, Jean-claude, Gaucherand, Pascal, Massardier, Jerome, Polazzi, Stephanie, Duclos, Antoine, Benchaib, Mehdi, Cartier, Regine, Jourdain, Marine, Ottmann, Michelle, Kramer, Rolf, Fiorini, Sylvie, Rivat, Nathalie, Mekki, Yahia, Fort-Jacquier, Julie, Barral, Maud-Catherine, Noelie, Vey, Haesebaert, Julie, Horvat, Come, Vidoni, Leo, Reynes, Jean-Marc, Eleouet, Jean-Francois, Josset, Laurence, Receveur, Matthieu, Javouhey, Etienne, Ploin, Dominique, Valette, Martine, Fanget, Remi, Targe, Sandrine Couray, Myar-Dury, Anne-Florence, Doret-Dion, Muriel, Massoud, Mona, Masson, Elsa, Bard, Emilie, Queromes, Gregory, Vanhems, Phillipe, Claris, Olivier, Butin, Marine, Ader, Florence
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) 2021
• Subjects: Rapid Communication; Iceland
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8299745/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34296672; https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100639

Since the introduction of non-pharmacological interventions to control COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in Europe has been limited. Surveillance data for 17 countries showed delayed RSV epidemics in France (≥ 12 w) and Iceland (≥ 4 w) during the 2020/21 season. RSV cases (predominantly small children) in France and Iceland were older compared with previous seasons. We hypothesise that future RSV epidemic(s) could start outside the usual autumn/winter season and be larger than expected. Year-round surveillance of RSV is of critical importance.