Hassan, M.Z.; Islam, M.A.; Haider, S.; Shirin, T.; Chowdhury, F. Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Deaths among Children under Five before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh. Viruses2024, 16, 111.
Hassan, M.Z.; Islam, M.A.; Haider, S.; Shirin, T.; Chowdhury, F. Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Deaths among Children under Five before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh. Viruses 2024, 16, 111.
Hassan, M.Z.; Islam, M.A.; Haider, S.; Shirin, T.; Chowdhury, F. Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Deaths among Children under Five before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh. Viruses2024, 16, 111.
Hassan, M.Z.; Islam, M.A.; Haider, S.; Shirin, T.; Chowdhury, F. Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Deaths among Children under Five before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh. Viruses 2024, 16, 111.
Abstract
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 (SARI) 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 prophylaxis is crucial to address RSV, a major contributor to under-five SARI deaths.
Keywords
Respiratory syncytial virus; RSV; COVID-19 pandemic; Children; SARI death; Bangladesh
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Virology
Copyright:
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