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?
Jojanneke van Summeren, Adam Meijer, Guðrún Aspelund, Jean‐Sébastien Casalegno, Guðrún Erna, Uy Hoang, Bruno Lina, VRS study group in Lyon, Simon de Lusignan, Anne Teirlinck, Valtýr Thors, John Paget
Abstract
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.