One of the first studies to document the impact of COVID-19 on already existing viruses in Australia has revealed how the pandemic was responsible for creating a huge change in the incidence and genetics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in the country.
RSV is a common virus that generally causes mild, cold like symptoms, infection can be serious particularly for infants and older adults.
Researchers say the pandemic has disrupted the seasonal pattern of RSV, a key member of a group of regular ‘winter viruses’. For the first time on record, during 2020, the winter RSV epidemic was absent due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and infection control measures.
However, RSV was one of the first of the key respiratory pathogens to re-emerge after COVID-19.
Read more at University of Sydney
Photo Credit: Yale Rosen via Wikimedia Commons
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