Viruses, Vol. 16, Pages 111: Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Deaths among Children under Five before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

Viruses, Vol. 16, Pages 111: Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Deaths among Children under Five before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh Viruses doi: 10.3390/v16010111 Authors: Md Zakiul Hassan Md. Ariful Islam Saleh Haider Tahmina Shirin Fahmida Chowdhury Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in young children worldwide. RSV-associated deaths in children are underreported in Bangladesh. We analyzed hospital-based surveillance data on severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) in under-five children before (August 2009–February 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020–March 2022). Using the World Health Organization definition, we identified SARI cases in 14 tertiary-level hospitals. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected for real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing of six respiratory viruses, including RSV. SARI deaths during the pandemic (2.6%, 66) were higher than pre-pandemic (1.8%, 159; p < 0.001). Nearly half of pandemic deaths (47%) had underlying respiratory viruses, similar to the pre-pandemic rate (45%). RSV detection in deaths was consistent pre-pandemic (13%, 20/159) and during the pandemic (12%, 8/66). Children aged < 6 months constituted 57% (16) of RSV-related deaths. Evaluating interventions like maternal vaccination and infant monoclonal antibody prop...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research