Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Torres, Ana Rita
Data de Publicação: 2023
Outros Autores: Guiomar, Raquel Guiomar, Verdasca, Nuno, Melo, Aryse, Rodrigues, Ana Paula, em nome da Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da Gripe
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
Texto Completo: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589
Resumo: Introduction: An out-of-season increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence was observed in Portugal from June 2021 onwards, revealing a continuing surge in cases throughout 2021/2022 autumn/winter. We aimed to describe this out-of-season epidemic and define its epidemic period, by analysing RSV incidence from week 40 of 2020 (2020-W40) to week 18 of 2022 (2022-W18).Material and Methods: Surveillance data on weekly RSV laboratory confirmed cases, in Portugal, was used to monitor RSV incidence using CUSUM test methodology for count data.Results: In 2021-W23, the CUSUM score identified a significant increase in the risk of RSV. By that time, the percentage of RSV positive tests rose from 1% in 2021-W22 (3/265) to 6% in 2021-W23 (18/298). Despite a sharp decrease in RSV incidence on 2021-W33 and on 2022-W02, the CUSUM score stayed over the limit up to 2022-W07, indicating that the RSV activity remained at an epidemic level. Distinct peaks of RSV cases were observed between 2021-W30 and 2021-W32 (average of 77 RSV cases per week) and between 2021-W39 and 2021-W41 (average of 79 RSV cases per week) with positivity rates around 60%.Conclusion: An out-of-season RSV epidemic was identified, with a longer epidemic period compared with previous seasons. Possible reasons include relaxation of COVID-19 physical distancing measures and a greater proportion of population susceptible to disease. As several factors may change the pattern of RSV activity, countries should implement year-round surveillance RSV surveillance systems. These findings might have an impact on public health planning regarding future RSV surges, namely, on the palivizumab prophylaxis period for high-risk infants.
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spelling Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in PortugalRessurgimento do Vírus Sincicial Respiratório em Crianças: Atividade Epidémica Fora de Época em PortugalChildPalivizumab; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiologyRespiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention and controlRespiratory Syncytial Virus, HumanCriançaInfecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/epidemiologiaInfecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/ prevenção e controloPalivizumabVírus Sincicial Respiratório HumanoIntroduction: An out-of-season increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence was observed in Portugal from June 2021 onwards, revealing a continuing surge in cases throughout 2021/2022 autumn/winter. We aimed to describe this out-of-season epidemic and define its epidemic period, by analysing RSV incidence from week 40 of 2020 (2020-W40) to week 18 of 2022 (2022-W18).Material and Methods: Surveillance data on weekly RSV laboratory confirmed cases, in Portugal, was used to monitor RSV incidence using CUSUM test methodology for count data.Results: In 2021-W23, the CUSUM score identified a significant increase in the risk of RSV. By that time, the percentage of RSV positive tests rose from 1% in 2021-W22 (3/265) to 6% in 2021-W23 (18/298). Despite a sharp decrease in RSV incidence on 2021-W33 and on 2022-W02, the CUSUM score stayed over the limit up to 2022-W07, indicating that the RSV activity remained at an epidemic level. Distinct peaks of RSV cases were observed between 2021-W30 and 2021-W32 (average of 77 RSV cases per week) and between 2021-W39 and 2021-W41 (average of 79 RSV cases per week) with positivity rates around 60%.Conclusion: An out-of-season RSV epidemic was identified, with a longer epidemic period compared with previous seasons. Possible reasons include relaxation of COVID-19 physical distancing measures and a greater proportion of population susceptible to disease. As several factors may change the pattern of RSV activity, countries should implement year-round surveillance RSV surveillance systems. These findings might have an impact on public health planning regarding future RSV surges, namely, on the palivizumab prophylaxis period for high-risk infants.Introdução: A partir de junho de 2021, registou-se um aumento na circulação do vírus sincicial respiratório (VSR) em Portugal, continuando a observar-se um elevado número de casos ao longo do outono/inverno de 2021/2022. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever esta epidemia fora de época e definir a sua duração, analisando a incidência deste vírus desde a semana 40 de 2020 (2020-40) até à semana 18 de 2022 (2022-18).Material e Métodos: O número semanal de casos de VSR confirmados laboratorialmente em Portugal foi utilizado para monitorização de incidência, utilizando a metodologia de teste CUSUM para contagens. Resultados: Na semana 2021-23, foi identificado um aumento significativo no risco de VSR, tendo a proporção de testes positivos aumentado de 1% na semana 2021-22 (3/265) para 6% na semana 2021-23 (18/298). Apesar de ter sido observado um decréscimo acentuado na incidência de VSR nas semanas 2021-33 e 2022-02, o score do teste de CUSUM permaneceu acima do limiar epidémico até à semana 2022-07. Foram observados picos distintos na incidência de VSR entre as semanas 2021-30 e 2021-32 (média de 77 casos de VSR por semana) e entre as semanas 2021-39 e 2021-41 (média de 79 casos de VSR por semana), com taxas de positividade em torno de 60%.Conclusão: Foi identificada uma epidemia de VSR fora de época, com um período epidémico superior ao observado noutras épocas de vigilância. Entre as razões possíveis para esta ocorrência inclui-se o relaxamento de medidas implementadas no âmbito do combate à pandemia de COVID-19 e uma maior proporção de população suscetível à doença. Uma vez que vários fatores podem interferir na sazonalidade do VSR, recomenda-se que os países implementem sistemas de vigilância ao longo de todo o ano. Estes resultados poderão ter impacto no planeamento de medidas de saúde pública em futuros surtos de VSR, nomeadamente, no período de administração de palivizumab para prevenção de infeção em crianças de alto risco.Ordem dos Médicos2023-01-27info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589Acta Médica Portuguesa; Vol. 36 No. 5 (2023): May; 343-352Acta Médica Portuguesa; Vol. 36 N.º 5 (2023): Maio; 343-3521646-07580870-399Xreponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãoinstacron:RCAAPenghttps://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589/15032https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589/15033Direitos de Autor (c) 2023 Acta Médica Portuguesainfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessTorres, Ana RitaGuiomar, Raquel GuiomarVerdasca, NunoMelo, AryseRodrigues, Ana Paulaem nome da Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da Gripe2023-05-07T03:00:35Zoai:ojs.www.actamedicaportuguesa.com:article/18589Portal AgregadorONGhttps://www.rcaap.pt/oai/openaireopendoar:71602024-03-19T16:45:54.844252Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãofalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
Ressurgimento do Vírus Sincicial Respiratório em Crianças: Atividade Epidémica Fora de Época em Portugal
title Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
spellingShingle Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
Torres, Ana Rita
Child
Palivizumab; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention and control
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
Criança
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/epidemiologia
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/ prevenção e controlo
Palivizumab
Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Humano
title_short Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
title_full Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
title_fullStr Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
title_full_unstemmed Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
title_sort Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: An Out-of-Season Epidemic in Portugal
author Torres, Ana Rita
author_facet Torres, Ana Rita
Guiomar, Raquel Guiomar
Verdasca, Nuno
Melo, Aryse
Rodrigues, Ana Paula
em nome da Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da Gripe
author_role author
author2 Guiomar, Raquel Guiomar
Verdasca, Nuno
Melo, Aryse
Rodrigues, Ana Paula
em nome da Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da Gripe
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Torres, Ana Rita
Guiomar, Raquel Guiomar
Verdasca, Nuno
Melo, Aryse
Rodrigues, Ana Paula
em nome da Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da Gripe
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Child
Palivizumab; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention and control
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
Criança
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/epidemiologia
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/ prevenção e controlo
Palivizumab
Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Humano
topic Child
Palivizumab; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention and control
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
Criança
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/epidemiologia
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/ prevenção e controlo
Palivizumab
Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Humano
description Introduction: An out-of-season increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence was observed in Portugal from June 2021 onwards, revealing a continuing surge in cases throughout 2021/2022 autumn/winter. We aimed to describe this out-of-season epidemic and define its epidemic period, by analysing RSV incidence from week 40 of 2020 (2020-W40) to week 18 of 2022 (2022-W18).Material and Methods: Surveillance data on weekly RSV laboratory confirmed cases, in Portugal, was used to monitor RSV incidence using CUSUM test methodology for count data.Results: In 2021-W23, the CUSUM score identified a significant increase in the risk of RSV. By that time, the percentage of RSV positive tests rose from 1% in 2021-W22 (3/265) to 6% in 2021-W23 (18/298). Despite a sharp decrease in RSV incidence on 2021-W33 and on 2022-W02, the CUSUM score stayed over the limit up to 2022-W07, indicating that the RSV activity remained at an epidemic level. Distinct peaks of RSV cases were observed between 2021-W30 and 2021-W32 (average of 77 RSV cases per week) and between 2021-W39 and 2021-W41 (average of 79 RSV cases per week) with positivity rates around 60%.Conclusion: An out-of-season RSV epidemic was identified, with a longer epidemic period compared with previous seasons. Possible reasons include relaxation of COVID-19 physical distancing measures and a greater proportion of population susceptible to disease. As several factors may change the pattern of RSV activity, countries should implement year-round surveillance RSV surveillance systems. These findings might have an impact on public health planning regarding future RSV surges, namely, on the palivizumab prophylaxis period for high-risk infants.
publishDate 2023
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2023-01-27
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dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589
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dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
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dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589
https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589/15032
https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/18589/15033
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv Direitos de Autor (c) 2023 Acta Médica Portuguesa
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
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eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Ordem dos Médicos
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Ordem dos Médicos
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Acta Médica Portuguesa; Vol. 36 No. 5 (2023): May; 343-352
Acta Médica Portuguesa; Vol. 36 N.º 5 (2023): Maio; 343-352
1646-0758
0870-399X
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