Internal medicine

Geology

Virus

Disease

Paramyxoviridae

Pneumovirinae

Pneumovirus

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Outbreak

Psychiatry

Virology

Psychological intervention

Viral disease

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Climatology

Winter season

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Respiratory system

Medicine

Eurosurveillance

Since the introduction of non-pharmacological interventions to control COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in Europe has been limited. Surveillance data for 17 countries showed delayed RSV epidemics in France (≥ 12 w) and Iceland (≥ 4 w) during the 2020/21 season. RSV cases (predominantly small children) in France and Iceland were older compared with previous seasons. We hypothesise that future RSV epidemic(s) could start outside the usual autumn/winter season and be larger than expected. Year-round surveillance of RSV is of critical importance.

Low levels of respiratory syncytial virus activity in Europe during the 2020/21 season: what can we expect in the coming summer and autumn/winter?