Although much of the attention during the pandemic was focused on SARS-CoV-2, other viruses—such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus—which are associated with severe cases of bronchiolitis and the common cold, also play an important role in respiratory infections, especially among children, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions.
In the study published in the international journal Viruses, the researchers analyzed respiratory samples collected in Santander during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the years that followed.
The results showed that, during the pandemic, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) was not detected in the analyzed samples, while rhinovirus continued to circulate and cause respiratory infections. After the pandemic, RSV reappeared, and more cases of rhinovirus were detected. This study also used molecular analysis tools to identify the lineages of respiratory syncytial virus and the genotypes of rhinovirus that were circulating in the region.
These findings highlight the importance of continuing to monitor respiratory viruses, even after a public health emergency. Understanding which viruses are circulating and how they change over time is key to developing better strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and control.
The study was conducted by researchers Jürg Niederbacher, Luis Miguel Sosa Ávila, Mayra Alejandra Machuca Pérez, Víctor Herrera, Martha Lucía Díaz Galvis, Anyela Lozano Parra, William Fernando Chaparro Pico, and Nathalia Bueno.
Read the full article at https://doi.org/10.3390/v18060666
