A comparative analysis of the epidemiology of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in Russia, 2013/14 to 2018/19

Abstract

Background Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are among the leading causes of lower respiratory tract infections worldwide. We conducted a comparative analysis of the age distribution and spatiotemporal epidemiology of influenza and RSV in Russia using sentinel surveillance data from 2013-14 to 2018-19 in six cities located in the western, central, and eastern regions of the country. Methods We calculated the positivity rate for influenza and RSV (by month, season, and overall) in each city, separately for patients seen at the primary and secondary care level (out-patients medical centres housing GP practices and infectious diseases hospitals, respectively). We compared the age distribution of patients infected with the different influenza virus (sub)types and RSV. Results A total of 17 551 respiratory specimens were included: the overall positivity rate was 13.5% for influenza and 4.4% for RSV. The A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B virus (sub)types caused 31.3%, 44.0% and, respectively, 24.7% of all influenza cases. The median age was older among influenza (15 years) than among RSV patients (3 years); differences across influenza virus (sub)types were seen only at the primary care level, with influenza A(H3N2) patients being significantly older than A(H1N1)pdm09 or B influenza patients. The timing of influenza epidemics was similar across cities, with the peak typically occurring in February or March. In contrast, the typical peak timing of RSV epidemics varied largely across cities, and the virus was often detected also in spring and summer months (unlike influenza). Conclusions Influenza and RSV epidemiology differed in many regards in Russia, especially in the timing of epidemics and the age distribution of infected subjects. Health policies aimed at containing the burden of diseases of viral respiratory infections in Russia should take these findings into account.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Hospitalized Children With Acute Respiratory Tract Infections From 2014 to 2022 in a Hospital in Hubei Province, China: Longitudinal Surveillance Study

“…RSV positivity rates of children fluctuated from 7.5% to 23% during 2007 to 2016 in the Philippines [30]. However, RSV in southwest Finland (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) and Russia (2013-2018) was rarely detected, with positivity rates of 6% and 4.4%, respectively [31,32]. In general, the area served by the hospital in our study is facing higher pressure from RSV infections in recent years.…”

Impact of Subgroup Distribution on Seasonality of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Global Systematic Analysis

“…In addition to the published literature, we collected unpublished weekly RSV activity data from datasets shared by collaborative research groups who published RSV epidemiology studies [9,12,[17][18][19] and the Global Epidemiology of RSV in Community and Hospitalised Care (GERi) project [16]. Where available, the RSV activity data were also collected by the three predefined age groups: <18 years, 18-64 years, and 65 years or above.…”