1887
  1. Home
  2. Eurosurveillance
  3. Volume 26, Issue 29, 22/Jul/2021
  4. Article
Perspective Open Access
Like 0
Download

Abstract

The non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have had consequences on the transmission of other respiratory viruses, most notably paediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. At the beginning of 2020, lockdown measures in the southern hemisphere led to a winter season with a marked reduction in both infections. Intermittent lockdowns in the northern hemisphere also appeared to interrupt transmission during winter 2020/21. However, a number of southern and northern hemisphere countries have now seen delayed RSV peaks. We examine the implications of these unpredictable disease dynamics for health service delivery in Europe, such as paediatric hospital and intensive care bed space planning, or palivizumab prophylaxis. We discuss the challenges for RSV vaccine trials and influenza immunisation campaigns, and highlight the considerable research opportunities that have arisen with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We argue that the rapid advances in viral whole genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and open data sharing during the pandemic are applicable to the ongoing surveillance of RSV and influenza. Lastly, we outline actions to prepare for forthcoming influenza seasons and for future implementation of RSV vaccines.

© Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186
2021-07-22
2024-04-24
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186
Loading
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/eurosurveillance/26/29/eurosurv-26-29_6.html?itemId=/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Shi T, McAllister DA, O’Brien KL, Simoes EAF, Madhi SA, Gessner BD, et al. Global, regional, and national disease burden estimates of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children in 2015: a systematic review and modelling study. Lancet. 2017;390(10098):946-58.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30938-8  PMID: 28689664 
  2. Wang X, Li Y, O’Brien KL, Madhi SA, Widdowson MA, Byass P, et al. Global burden of respiratory infections associated with seasonal influenza in children under 5 years in 2018: a systematic review and modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;8(4):e497-510.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30545-5  PMID: 32087815 
  3. Britton PN, Hu N, Saravanos G, Shrapnel J, Davis J, Snelling T, et al. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2020;4(11):e42-3.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30307-2  PMID: 32956616 
  4. Olsen SJ, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Budd AP, Brammer L, Sullivan S, Pineda RF, et al. Decreased influenza activity during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, Australia, Chile, and South Africa, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(37):1305-9.  https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6937a6  PMID: 32941415 
  5. Vásquez-Hoyos P, Diaz-Rubio F, Monteverde-Fernandez N, Jaramillo-Bustamante JC, Carvajal C, Serra A, et al. Reduced PICU respiratory admissions during COVID-19. Arch Dis Child 2020:archdischild-2020-320469
  6. Public Health England (PHS). National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. London: PHS. [Accessed: 29 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports
  7. Foley DA, Yeoh DK, Minney-Smith CA, Martin AC, Mace AO, Sikazwe CT, et al. The interseasonal resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus in Australian Children following the reduction of coronavirus disease 2019-related public health measures. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;ciaa1906.  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1906  PMID: 33594407 
  8. National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Weekly respiratory pathogens surveillance report week. Johannesburg: NICD. [Accessed: 7 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/surveillance-reports/weekly-respiratory-pathogens-surveillance-report-week
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV national trends. Atlanta: CDC. [Accessed: 7 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/rsv/natl-trend.html
  10. New South Wales Government. COVID-19 weekly surveillance in NSW 2021. St Leonards: NSW government; 2021. Available from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/covid-19-surveillance-report-20210719.pdf
  11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weekly US influenza surveillance report (FluView). Atlanta: CDC. [Accessed: 7 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly
  12. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)-World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe). Flu News Europe - Joint ECDC-WHO/Europe weekly influenza update. Weekly influenza overview Weeks 21-24/2021 (24 May-20 June 2021). Stockholm-Copenhagen: ECDC–WHO/Europe. [Accessed: 7 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://flunewseurope.org/SeasonOverview
  13. Delestrain C, Danis K, Hau I, Billard M, Kragten L, Cohen R, et al. Impact of COVID-19 social distancing on viral infection in France: a delayed outbreak of RSV. Authorea Preprints; 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.22541/au.161780084.44984136/v1 
  14. Baker RE, Park SW, Yang W, Vecchi GA, Metcalf CJE, Grenfell BT. The impact of COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions on the future dynamics of endemic infections. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117(48):30547-53.  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2013182117  PMID: 33168723 
  15. Been JV, Burgos Ochoa L, Bertens LCM, Schoenmakers S, Steegers EAP, Reiss IKM. Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on the incidence of preterm birth: a national quasi-experimental study. Lancet Public Health. 2020;5(11):e604-11.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30223-1  PMID: 33065022 
  16. McLaurin KK, Farr AM, Wade SW, Diakun DR, Stewart DL. Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization outcomes and costs of full-term and preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2016;36(11):990-6.  https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.113  PMID: 27490190 
  17. Green CA, Yeates D, Goldacre A, Sande C, Parslow RC, McShane P, et al. Admission to hospital for bronchiolitis in England: trends over five decades, geographical variation and association with perinatal characteristics and subsequent asthma. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101(2):140-6.  https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2015-308723  PMID: 26342094 
  18. Reeves RM, Hardelid P, Panagiotopoulos N, Minaji M, Warburton F, Pebody R. Burden of hospital admissions caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants in England: A data linkage modelling study. J Infect. 2019;78(6):468-75.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2019.02.012  PMID: 30817978 
  19. Impact-RSV Study Group. Palivizumab, a humanized respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibody, reduces hospitalization from respiratory syncytial virus infection in high-risk infants. The IMpact-RSV Study Group. Pediatrics. 1998;102(3 Pt 1):531-7. PMID: 9738173 
  20. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2019-20 Season’s pediatric flu deaths tie high mark set during 2017-18 season. Atlanta: CDC. [Accessed: 24 Jan 2021]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2019-2020/2019-20-pediatric-flu-deaths.htm
  21. Griffin MP, Yuan Y, Takas T, Domachowske JB, Madhi SA, Manzoni P, et al. Single-dose nirsevimab for prevention of RSV in preterm infants. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(5):415-25.  https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1913556  PMID: 32726528 
  22. Langedijk AC, Lebbink RJ, Naaktgeboren C, Evers A, Viveen MC, Greenough A, et al. Global molecular diversity of RSV - the "INFORM RSV" study. BMC Infect Dis. 2020;20(1):450.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05175-4  PMID: 32591017 
  23. Rambaut A, Pybus OG, Nelson MI, Viboud C, Taubenberger JK, Holmes EC. The genomic and epidemiological dynamics of human influenza A virus. Nature. 2008;453(7195):615-9.  https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06945  PMID: 18418375 
  24. du Plessis L, McCrone JT, Zarebski AE, Hill V, Ruis C, Gutierrez B, et al. Establishment and lineage dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in the UK. Science. 2021;371(6530):708-12.  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf2946  PMID: 33419936 
  25. World Health Organization (WHO). WHO meeting to launch phase-2 of the RSV surveillance pilot based on the global influenza surveillance and response system. Geneva: WHO. [Accessed: 7 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/global-influenza-programme/global-respiratory-syncytial-virus-surveillance
  26. World Health Organization (WHO). Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2021- 2022 northern hemisphere influenza season. Geneva: WHO; 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/recommended-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2021-2022-northern-hemisphere-influenza-season
  27. Nickbakhsh S, Mair C, Matthews L, Reeve R, Johnson PCD, Thorburn F, et al. Virus-virus interactions impact the population dynamics of influenza and the common cold. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116(52):27142-50.  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1911083116  PMID: 31843887 
  28. Public Health England (PHE). SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England. London: PHE; 2021. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/993879/Variants_of_Concern_VOC_Technical_Briefing_15.pdf
  29. Salimi V, Viegas M, Trento A, Agoti CN, Anderson LJ, Avadhanula V, et al. Proposal for human respiratory syncytial virus nomenclature below the species level. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(6):1-9.  https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2706.204608  PMID: 34013862 
  30. Williams TC, Burgers WA. SARS-CoV-2 evolution and vaccines: cause for concern? Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9(4):333-5.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00075-8  PMID: 33524316 
  31. Mas V, Nair H, Campbell H, Melero JA, Williams TC. Antigenic and sequence variability of the human respiratory syncytial virus F glycoprotein compared to related viruses in a comprehensive dataset. Vaccine. 2018;36(45):6660-73.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.09.056  PMID: 30292456 
  32. Simões EAF, Forleo-Neto E, Geba GP, Kamal M, Yang F, Cicirello H, et al. Suptavumab for the prevention of medically attended respiratory syncytial virus infection in preterm infants. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;ciaa951.  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa951  PMID: 32897368 
  33. Foley DA, Yeoh DK, Minney-Smith CA, Martin AC, Mace AO, Sikazwe CT, et al. The interseasonal resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus in Australian children following the reduction of coronavirus disease 2019–related public health measures. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;ciaa1906:ciaa1906.  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1906  PMID: 33594407 
  34. The Age. Surge in serious respiratory illness among children puts doctors on high alert. 25 February 2021. Available from: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/doctors-on-high-alert-after-surge-in-serious-respiratory-illness-among-children-20210224-p575cu.html
  35. National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Weekly Respiratory Pathogens Surveillance Report Week 50. South Africa: Johannesburg. [Accessed: 6 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Weekly-Respiratory-Pathogens-Report-Week-50-2020.pdf
  36. Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). Previous Intelligence and Dashboards. Wellington: ESR. [Accessed: 17 Jul 2021]. Available from: https://www.esr.cri.nz/our-services/consultancy/flu-surveillance-and-research/2017-new-zealand-influenza-intelligence-dashboard/
  37. Stuff. RSV outbreak: 'Very sharp' spike in cases dwarfs infections from last six years. 21 July 2021. Available from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/125733161/rsv-outbreak-very-sharp-spike-in-cases-dwarfs-infections-from-last-six-years
  38. Sante Publique France. Bulletin épidémiologique bronchiolite, semaine 21. Saison 2020-2021. 2 Jun 2021. Available from: https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/maladies-et-traumatismes/maladies-et-infections-respiratoires/bronchiolite/documents/bulletin-national/bulletin-epidemiologique-bronchiolite-semaine-21.-saison-2020-2021
  39. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV National Trends. Atlanta: CDC [Accessed: 6 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/rsv/natl-trend.html
  40. Healio. Q&A: US sees late surge of RSV amid decline in COVID-19. 18 May 2021. Available from: https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20210519/qa-us-sees-late-surge-of-rsv-amid-decline-in-covid19
  41. National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID). RSV infection. Tokyo: NIID. [Accessed: 6 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/10/2096-weeklygraph/1661-21rsv.html
Transmission of paediatric respiratory syncytial virus and influenza in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Thomas+C.+Williams&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Williams Thomas C.</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Ian+Sinha&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sinha Ian</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Ian+G.+Barr&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Barr Ian G.</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Maria+Zambon&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Zambon Maria</a></span>. Transmission of paediatric respiratory syncytial virus and influenza in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2021;26(29):pii=2100186. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 11 Feb 2021;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 04 Jul 2021 </span> </p>
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.29.2100186
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Submit comment
Close
Comment moderation successfully completed
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error