Respiratory syncytial virus surge in 2022 caused by lineages already present before the COVID‐19 pandemic

In 2022, Austria experienced a severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemic with an earlier‐than‐usual start (Weeks 35/2021–45/2022) and increased numbers of pediatric patients in emergency departments. This surge came 2 years after a season with no cases detected as a result of coronavirus dis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical virology 2023-06, Vol.95 (6), p.e28830-n/a
Main Authors: Redlberger‐Fritz, Monika, Springer, David N., Aberle, Stephan W., Camp, Jeremy V., Aberle, Judith H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Emergency medical care
Emergency medical services
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Gene sequencing
Genotype
Genotypes
Glycoproteins
Humans
Infant
molecular epidemiology
Pandemics
Pediatrics
phylodynamics
Phylogeny
Respiratory syncytial virus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human - genetics
Seasons
sentinel surveillance
Vaccines
Viral diseases
Virology
Viruses
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Summary:In 2022, Austria experienced a severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemic with an earlier‐than‐usual start (Weeks 35/2021–45/2022) and increased numbers of pediatric patients in emergency departments. This surge came 2 years after a season with no cases detected as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 nonpharmaceutical interventions. We analyzed epidemiologic patterns and the phylodynamics of RSV based on approximately 30 800 respiratory specimens collected year‐round over 10 years from ambulatory and hospitalized patients from 248 locations in Austria. Genomic surveillance and phylogenetic analysis of 186 RSV‐A and 187 RSV‐B partial glycoprotein sequences collected from 2018 to 2022 revealed that the 2022/2023 surge was driven by RSV‐B in contrast to the surge in the 2021/2022 season that was driven by RSV‐A. Whole‐genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis indicated that the RSV‐B strain GB5.0.6a was the predominant genotype in the 2022/2023 season and emerged in late 2019. The results provide insight into RSV evolution and epidemiology that will be applicable to future monitoring efforts with the advent of novel vaccines and therapeutics.
ISSN:0146-6615
1096-9071
DOI:10.1002/jmv.28830