Evaluation of the national laboratory-based surveillance system for respiratory syncytial virus in Sweden, 2015 –2016

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, in infants [1], as well as in the elderly and immunocompromised patients. RSV infections in these risk groups are associated with significant morbidity and mortality [2]. In temperate climates, RSV infections usually occur in seasonal outbreaks during late autumn, winter and early spring months [3]. In Sweden and other Nordic countries, RSV epidemics occur in a biennial pattern, with larger epidemics every other winter and milder epidemics during the interceding winters [4].
Source: Journal of Clinical Virology - Category: Virology Authors: Source Type: research