Respiratory syncytial virus causes more hospitalizations and deaths in equatorial Brazil than influenza (including during the 2009 pandemic)

Abstract

Despite numerous studies evaluating infl uenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), there is still a lack of knowledge about them, especially in tropical countries. We compared the relative importance of respiratory viruses by examining their spatiotemporal patterns, age-specifi c hospitalization data and mortality data for 2007-2012 obtained from offi cial sources. The data were aggregated into "respiratory infection seasonal zones" formed combining states that had similar seasonal patterns of pneumonia and infl uenza (P&I). Equatorial-North where P&I peaks in the middle of the year, Equatorial-South where P&I peaks in the fi rst semester and coincides with the rainy-season, Subtropical where P&I peaks are clearly concentrated in the winter season, and Tropical Midwest and South-East where P&I peaks are a transition between the South-Equatorial and the Sub-tropical. Our analyses indicate that RSV has higher impact than infl uenza in equatorial region of Brazil, which was particularly evident during the circulation of the 2009pdm strain, and suggests that seasonal infl uenza may have a lower impact in Equatorial Brazil (and perhaps in other tropical regions of the world)than previously considered. Accordingly, we suggest that the broad assumption that infl uenza is the main cause of viral respiratory hospitalizations and death in equatorial regions be questioned with greater emphasis in future studies.

Seasonal influenza vaccination policies in the 194 WHO Member States: The evolution of global influenza pandemic preparedness and the challenge of sustaining equitable vaccine access

“…Current formulations and approaches to yearly influenza vaccine selection, development, and timing do not consistently address the needs of non-temperate, tropical or sub-tropical regions, where seasonality and circulating viruses may vary from those influenza vaccines released each year [44] , [45] , [46] . This reduces the reliability and efficacy of yearly vaccines in these countries, creating an additional barrier to influenza vaccine policy adoption, aside from competing priorities faced in these countries [47] , [48] . Vaccine development for next-generation seasonal influenza vaccines must be directed to overcome these and other challenges, if the expectation is to increase global access and adoption of influenza vaccination in all contexts.…”

Biosensors for the detection of respiratory viruses: A review

“…It presents an (-)ssRNA genome [187] and belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, which is composed of other viruses of public health interest, as the measles virus and the Newcastle disease virus [188] . It is one of the major causes of respiratory diseases around the world with a lethality compared to the Influenza virus, mainly in children under five years old [189] . In this group of children RSV can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the former presenting in almost 50% of the cases [186 , 190] .…”

“…This current scenario was responsible for more than 59,000 deaths of children under 5 years old in 2015 [192] with estimative of deaths between 66,000 and 234,000 children, teenagers, and elders [191] . Just in Brazil, RSV was responsible for 2366 new cases from 2007 to 2012 with more deaths even than the deaths correlated with the Influenza virus [189] .…”

Covid-19 em contexto: comparação com a mortalidade mensal por causas respiratórias nos estados brasileiros

“…O presente estudo foi desenvolvido tendo em vista essa limitação (que encorajamos seja superada o antes possível pelos serviços informáticos responsáveis ). Nesse contexto, as análises apresentam dados de relevância para avaliar a severidade da presente crise sanitária e determinar aqueles estados onde é plausível esperar um aumento no número de casos e possíveis mortes nas próximas semanas, o que ocorreria se três condições forem satisfeitas: (i) a sazonalidade do SARS-CoV-2 for similar à sazonalidade de outras infecções respiratórias no país, como as causadas por influenza, vírus respiratório sincicial e outros coronavírus (11,18,19), (ii) ainda houver uma grande proporção da população suscetível, e (iii) não houver soluções farmacológicas disponíveis e implementadas na escala necessária.…”

“…Por outro lado, no caso das mortes notificadas, vale novamente destacar que ainda não é possível distinguir aquelas causadas pela Covid-19 em pessoas que de outra forma não viriam a óbito (excesso) e aquelas ocorrendo simultaneamente (ou aceleradas) pelo vírus em uma parcela da população que, na ausência da pandemia, também sucumbiria a outras doenças e infecções. Por exemplo, entre os pacientes que foram a óbito pela Covid-19, 74% tinham doenças preexistentes, muitas das quais também são fatores predisponentes para a gravidade em influenza e outras infecções respiratórias (19). Além disso, um exame positivo para um vírus não significa necessariamente que a infecção pelo vírus sempre seja a causa primária de óbito (31).…”