Autor(es): Melo, Aryse ; Torres, Ana Rita ; Lança, Miguel ; Gaio, Vânia ; Rodrigues, Ana Paula ; Guiomar, Raquel ; Bandeira, Teresa ; Azevedo, Inês ; VigiRSV network
Data: 2023
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/9059
Origem: Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
Assunto(s): Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus; RSV; VigiRSV; Estados de Saúde e de Doença; Infecções Respiratórias; Portugal
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in infants, young children and elderly. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) therapy is the available method to prevent and combat severe disease in infants, nevertheless there is a global effort in the development of vaccines and new generation of MAb. In this sense, RSV surveillance is essential to estimate the burden of RSV infection, evaluate the impact of preventive measures and to support public health decisions. Following European recommendations, a nationwide hospital-based RSV sentinel network denominated VIGIRSV was set up in Portugal. The aim of this work is to describe the implementation of VIGIRSV and report preliminary results obtained in this surveillance. VIGIRSV was implemented in 2021 with the initiative of the National Institute of Health Dr.outor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and the Portuguese Paediatrics Society (PPS), and in 2023, 20 Hospitals collaborate in the surveillance. The surveillance is based on the recruitment of children <2 years-old hospitalized for, at least, 24 hours, that fulfill the case definition fordue to an RSVAcute Respiratory Infection (ARI). At recruitment, the paediatrician fills an epidemiological clinical questionnaire, and biological samples are collected for laboratorial diagnosis. Positive samples for RSV are forwarded to INSA for complementary virological analyses such as genetic characterization of the virus. Preliminary results from the first 2 years of surveillance are presented in table 1 and show an early RSV activity with high intensity in the 2022/23 season.. The data obtained from VIGIRSV´s results integrate the weekly published “Epidemiological surveillance bulletin of Influenza and other respiratory viruses” which can be foundavailable at https://www.insa.min-saude.pt/category/informacao-e-cultura-cientifica/publicacoes/atividade-gripal/, as well as the surveillance at European level. In addition, epidemiological and virological results are disclosed in scientific publications. The maintenance of such important surveillance is possible due to effort of distinct organizations and professionals, and has impact on the public health service.
