EPI-WIN digest 55 - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Genomic Surveillance: How and why

Overview

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes infections of the upper and lower respiratory airways (including the nose, sinuses and lungs). Each year, RSV causes an estimated 3.6 million RSV-associated hospitalizations and approximately 100 000 RSV-attributable deaths in children under 5 years of age worldwide. 

The RSV genomic surveillance guidance is critically important, operationalizing a core pillar of the Global Genomic Surveillance Strategy for Pathogens with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (2022–2032). Specifically, it:

• Increases awareness amongst policy makers of the public health importance of RSV genomic surveillance,
• Strengthens laboratory and genomic surveillance and bioinformatics capacities in Member States,
• Serves to generate an evidence base of genetic sequence data for RSV at the global level and fill information gaps especially in low- and lower-middle income countries.