RSV here this winter with a vengeance

Before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, most RSV seasons were pretty typical – A Flu/RSV season would start in the late Autumn with cases trickling in from mid- to late April, and then a peak in late July to mid-August. By the time spring rolled around in most temperate climates, you would see much less circulation of RSV.

This year in Europe and USA, we saw RSV come back with a vengeance and really start to tick up a lot earlier in their Autumn, peak later and last longer. A lot of people, especially children, presented in a very short time period and with much higher hospitalization rates in the northern winter than in the past.

It’s interesting because the COVID 19 pandemic and lockdowns disrupted the circulation of RSV and other common respiratory viruses and this none more so than during the extended lockdowns in NZ. So as we come into winter 2023, we expect a similar abnormal pattern as the Northern hemisphere and increased cases of RSV and other respiratory virus, as well as the Omicron variant Covid virus.

In short: by the time we get to this NZ winter 2023 it is anticipated we will see co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and flu during NZ winter time and at significantly higher than it has been in previous typical seasons.

What diagnostics do we have for RSV/ Flu/ Covid 19?

Before the pandemic, we often didn’t have to use a diagnostic test if it was the middle of Autumn /winter and an adult or child came in with wheezing and symptoms that were consistent with bronchiolitis. You could make that diagnosis on history and physical aspects alone. You knew it was RSV season, it was probably RSV causing that episode of bronchiolitis especially if a child in their first year of life. Then came Covid 19 and we added the COVID 19 RAT or PCR to our diagnostics. Now, because of the atypical season and circulation, reduced antibodies and immunity that we’ve been seeing, an accessible rapid diagnostic tool with flu/RSV and SARS-CoV-2 is a significant advantage to have. Is it wise or safe to have someone with cold/flu symptoms at work undiagnosed? How many people continue to work when their Covid-19 RAT is negative? With the Nasal pentest 4 in 1, we/you get to see four different very significant respiratory viruses with a single swab panel.

Vaccinate, diagnose and isolate are the three key elements to safety from respiratory virus in the workplace. Click the button below to find out how InScience can help you.

“Our results demonstrate that COVID-19 still cannot simply be compared with influenza,” they wrote. While the death rate among COVID patients was significantly higher, there was no difference in the rate that COVID or ‘flu patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, which was around 8%.

Source
JAMA Network Open: “Hospital Outcomes of Community-Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection Compared With Influenza Infection in Switzerland.”

COVID-19 remains deadlier than influenza in severe cases requiring hospitalization, a new study shows.

People who were hospitalized with Omicron COVID-19 infections were 54% more likely to die, compared to people who were hospitalized with the flu, Swiss researchers found. The results of the study continue to debunk an earlier belief from the start of the pandemic that the flu was the more dangerous of the two respiratory viruses. Researchers noted that the deadliness of COVID-19 compared to flu persisted “despite virus evolution and improved management strategies.”.

Maybe because of this the New Zealand government remains committed to maintaining the requirement for those testing positive for Covid to remain isolated for 7 days after testing positive. This places pressure on business and leaves gaps in workplace ability to get through normal workflow. There are no such requirements for the flu however those that do test positive for Influenza A and B or RSV on the Rapid pentest 4 in 1 should isolate until negative and symptoms abate.

It is important for NZ employers to continue to require employees to test for Covid to determine the length of required sick leave. It will be important through the winter months to maintain this testing.

The study referenced was published this week in JAMA Network Open and included 5,212 patients in Switzerland hospitalized with COVID-19 or the flu. All the COVID patients were infected with the Omicron variant and hospitalized and Flu data included cases of Influenza A and B and RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus).

Overall, 7% of COVID-19 patients died, compared to 4.4% of flu patients.

“Our results demonstrate that COVID-19 still cannot simply be compared with influenza,” they wrote. While the death rate among COVID patients was significantly higher, there was no difference in the rate that COVID or flu patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, which was around 8%.”

Source:
JAMA Network Open: “Hospital Outcomes of Community-Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection Compared With Influenza Infection in Switzerland.”