Circulation pattern of influenza A/B virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Fortaleza, Ceará, after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the circulation patterns of respiratory viruses from January 2023 to May 2024 and to describe their epidemiological characteristics in the city of Fortaleza based on data obtained by molecular tests based on real-time PCR (qPCR).
Method: This retrospective epidemiological study was conducted to investigate patterns of infection by influenza A/B virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, and the prevalence and incidence of these respiratory viruses in the city of Fortaleza from January 2023 to May 2024.
Result: There was a significant difference in the distribution of total positive cases and the demand for molecular tests between the periods analyzed (p<0.05). A significant difference was also observed between the total number of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 and infections caused by Influenza (p=0.0041) and RSV (p=0.0012) in the same period. No significant differences were observed between influenza and RSV during the study period. The monthly infection rates revealed a seasonal trend in the incidence of infections caused by influenza and RSV.
Conclusion: The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 detection in relation to the number of positive results showed a considerable decline in the first half of 2024, with an increase in the number of infections caused by influenza virus and RSV. In this way, we evidenced a change in the pattern of viral circulation of the three respiratory viruses, revealing the reestablishment of the seasonality and incidence of influenza A/B virus and RSV for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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