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?

Summeren, J. van, Meijer, A., Aspelund, G., Casalegno, J.S., Erna, G., Hoang, U., Lina, B., Lusignan, S. de, Teirlinck, A.C., Thors, V., Paget, J. 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? Eurosurveillance: 2021, 26(29), p. nr. 2100639.

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Key points * 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.

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