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RSV circulation demonstrates substantial geographic variability
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The traditional epidemic period for respiratory syncytial virus is November to March, but patterns can vary among different regions and the disease can actively circulate throughout the year, according to recent study findings published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.
Karma M. Rabon-Stith, PhD, PMP, of MedImmune, and colleagues evaluated RSV test data during the five RSV seasons between 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 to determine disease circulation patterns. Data were gathered from RSVAlert, a US surveillance system that collects and characterizes RSV test data at the national, regional, state and local levels.
Karma M. Rabon-Stith
Numbers of tests per season ranged from 527,653 to 678,649 with positive tests per season ranging from 67,819 to 84,094. RSV season duration averaged 20 weeks for four of the five seasons studied; 2009-2010 demonstrated a slightly shorter season duration of 18 weeks.
The RSV season typically began and ended earliest in the South and latest in the West over the five seasons studied. During the 2007-2008 season, RSV activity peaked as early as the week ending Dec. 29 in the South. During the 2010-2011 season, RSV activity peaked as last as the week ending March 5 in the Midwest.
“In summary, results from the RSVAlert program for 2007 to 2012 demonstrate substantial variability in the timing of RSV activity between and within geographic areas,” the researchers wrote. “This observation was noted at all geographic strata (census regions, HHS regions, states, and CBSAs) over the five seasons studied. RSV actively circulated in many areas for period of time that were either longer or shorter than the commonly described season (ie, onset in the fall and offset in the late winter or early spring). Local and regional variability in RSV circulation emphasizes the importance of local surveillance data in accurately assessing RSV activity.”
Disclosure: The RSVAlert is funded in part by MedImmune and IMS Health. The study was funded in part by MedImmune. Three researchers report financial ties with MedImmune. Three researchers report financial ties with IMS Health.
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