Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Florida's Respiratory Syncytial Virus Surveillance

A statewide Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) surveillance system was implemented in Florida in 1999 to support clinical decision-making for prophylaxis of premature infants. RSV infections usually occur during the late fall, winter, or early spring months (CDC). Data collected by the Florida RSV surveillance system from 1999 - present allow us to identify geographical regions where high infection rates also occur during the summer month.

Data are collected weekly from 12 sentinel hospitals throughout Florida. Each site reports the total number of RSV tests performed and the total number positive to the Bureau of Epidemiology via email or fax. Regional and statewide data are made available to public health professionals, health care providers and the public via a website.

RSV activity typically peaks in the months of November through January and is least active in summer. Although summer months typically have less RSV activity in Florida, participating facilities, especially in South Florida, consistently report greater than 10% of laboratory tests as positive in most summer months.

The determination of unique seasonal and geographical trends of RSV activity has important implications as it relates to prescribing patterns for initiating prophylaxis to children at high-risk for RSV infection. The data obtained through RSV surveillance have proven to be a useful guide to Florida's healthcare professionals in understanding the unique seasonal and geographical RSV trends in Florida. This unique trend has also been validated by the CDC.

We really appreciate all of the quality data that our sentinel hospitals provide. If you would like further information regarding becoming a sentinel hospital please contact the Bureau of Epidemiology at (850) 245-4401.

For more information about regional or county specific respiratory disease activity please contact your local county health department.

Current Florida RSV Surveillance Information:

Recent changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Respiratory and EntericVirus Surveillance System (NREVSS) has led to a reduction in the number of hospitals participating inNREVSS. Those changes are reflected in the most recently published RSV tables and graphs. The FloridaDepartment of Health is reaching out to hospital laboratories to strengthen Florida's RSV surveillancesystem.

For the most recent trend information please view the final figure (Figure 25) in the Florida Flu Review.

Historical Information

Graphs:

• Statewide
• Southeast
• North
• Southwest
• Northwest
• Central

Tables:

• Statewide by Month
• Statewide by Week

• Southeast by Month
• Southeast by Week

• North by Month
• North by Week

• Northwest by Month
• Northwest by Week

• Southwest by Month
• Southwest by Week

• Central by Month
• Central by Week

Florida RSV Program Information:

• RSV Regional Breakdown
• RSV Season by Region

RSV Articles:

• MMWR Brief Report: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Activity (March 5, 2010)
• MMWR Brief Report: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Activity (December 7, 2007)
• RSV: Respiratory virus can be life threatening (December 17, 2007)

Additional RSV Information:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's RSV Page
• CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS)