This study states that RSV is the leading infectious cause of respiratory morbidity and mortality in children aged <5 years. Annually, there are an estimated 33 (uncertainty range 21-50) million episodes of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), 3.2 (uncertainty range 2.7-3.8) million RSV hospitalizations, and 59 600 (uncertainty range 48 000-74 500) in-hospital RSV deaths.1, 2 RSV vaccine research and development efforts have progressed significantly in recent years, with some nineteen vaccines and two new generation monoclonal antibody candidates in various stages of clinical trials. It is possible that a maternal RSV vaccine to prevent RSV infection in young infants may be licensed in the next few years. Though RSV disease occurs across all ages,4-6 it disproportionately affects children <2 years.7 The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has recommended improved case definitions, surveillance, and disease estimates for RSV especially in low- and middle-income countries where the burden is likely to be high.8 There is a need for improved RSV surveillance to better understand seasonality and disease burden in different countries.9 RSV surveillance is often a by-product of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance.
Reference link- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/irv.12688
