Early and intense epidemic of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Denmark, August to December 2022

Charlotte Munkstrup; Frederikke Kristensen Lomholt; Hanne-Dorthe Emborg; Karina Lauenborg Møller; Jesper Schak Krog; Ramona Trebbien; Lasse S Vestergaard

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.1.2200937

Early and intense epidemic of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Denmark, August to December 2022

Euro Surveill. 2023 Jan;28(1):2200937. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.1.2200937.

Authors

Charlotte Munkstrup¹, Frederikke Kristensen Lomholt¹, Hanne-Dorthe Emborg¹, Karina Lauenborg Møller², Jesper Schak Krog³, Ramona Trebbien³, Lasse S Vestergaard¹

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
² Division of Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 36695451
PMCID: PMC9817209
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.1.2200937

Abstract

In the autumn of 2022, Denmark witnessed the second out-of-season epidemic of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) following widespread societal preventive measures implemented against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during 2020 and 2021. Admissions peaked at twice the level of pre-pandemic seasons. Especially infants below 6 months of age were affected, but also adults over 45 years of age. The current epidemic is dominated by RSV subtype B, unlike the major RSV summer epidemic in 2021 dominated by RSV subtype A.

Keywords: COVID-19; RSV; SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; respiratory syncytial virus; surveillance.

MeSH terms

Adult
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Denmark / epidemiology
Humans
Infant
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections* / epidemiology
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human*
Seasons