RSV Substantially Contributes to Infant Morbidity and Mortality

A recent study published in The Lancet estimates that Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-attributable acute lower respiratory infection was responsible for more than 100,000 deaths in children under five globally in 2019.

Published on May 19, 2022, his peer-reviewed study was the first to examine RSV disease burden in narrow age brackets.

These researchers reported that there were over 45,000 deaths in infants under six months old in 2019, about 20% of the total global cases of RSV occurring in this age group.

"Our estimates by narrower age ranges help to identify groups that should be prioritized, including pregnant people, so that children in the youngest age groups can be protected, similarly to current strategies which offer vaccines for whooping cough, typhoid, and tetanus to pregnant people," says Harish Nair, co-author of the paper, University of Edinburgh, UK.

"As COVID-19 restrictions are easing around the world, the majority of the young children born in the last two years have never been exposed to RSV and therefore have no immunity against this virus."

This new study's findings are broadly consistent with previous estimates from a 2015 study, which placed the number of annual cases of RSV in children up to five years old at 33.1 million, resulting in a total of 118,200 overall deaths.

Writing in a linked comment, Tina Hartert, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, who wasn't involved in the research, said in a press release issued on May 19, 2022, "There is a substantial RSV ALRI burden during the newborn period in Low and Lower Middle-Income countries, highlighting the potential for passive immunization strategies to impact child health meaningfully."

"Policymakers will benchmark benefits of RSV prevention against other priority public health interventions."

"Accurate estimates of prevention impact are critical to demonstrating the investment case for RSV prevention."

The study authors say these findings highlight the urgent need to develop effective RSV vaccines.

An updated listing of RSV vaccine candidates is posted on this weblink.

Note(s): This study was funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, or data interpretation. And no industry conflicts of interest were disclosed.

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