Title
Altered epidemiological patterns of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and influenza detections in a tropical Australian setting 2020 to 2023.
Link to article in PubMed
Author(s)
Abstract
We describe the recent temporal patterns of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus detections in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, between 2020 and 2023.This retrospective analysis of patients presenting with respiratory diseases utilised a multiplex viral nucleic acid detection assay for RSV, influenza and SARS Cov2 (COVID-19) to determine the relative frequency of non-COVID-19 respiratory viral detections by age and month during the study period.During this period of the NT COVID-19 epidemic, disruption of the usual annual wet season RSV outbreak patterns occurred, and the yearly influenza peak was absent for two annual cycles. Our data also reveals that 25% of RSV infections were occurring in patients greater than 40 years of age, compared to 32% of influenza infections presenting in the same period, documenting a greater burden of adult disease than previously documented in the NT.Loss of non-COVID-19 viral seasonality and a substantial unrecognised RSV adult burden were noted. We will continue to monitor seasonality, and the RSV burden and this will help to target the populations benefiting from recently released RSV vaccine.
Publication information
Aust N Z J Public Health . 2024 Aug;48(4):100172. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100172. Epub 2024 Jul 25.
Date Issued
2024-08-01
Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
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