Integrated surveillance of human respiratory viruses in addition to SARS-CoV-2 in a public testing facility in the Netherlands

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 prevention measures impact the circulation of other respiratory viruses. Surveillance in the network of general practitioners is hampered by widespread testing for SARS-CoV-2 in public testing facilities. Objectives: To evaluate integrated community surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses and describe epidemiological trends. Study design: Respiratory surveillance was set up within an existing SARS-CoV-2 public testing facility. Community-dwelling (a)symptomatic persons provided consent for completion of a questionnaire and additional testing on residual material from swabs taken for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR (Allplex Seegene). Daily, a random subset was tested for sixteen respiratory viruses by multiplex realtime PCRs (Seegene). Results: Between October 6th (week 40) 2021 and April 22nd (week 16) 2022, 3,969 subjects were tested. The weekly median age ranged from 23 to 39 years. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms ranged from 98.5% (week 40) to 27.4% (week 1). The prevalence of detection of any respiratory virus (including SARS-CoV-2), ranged from 19.6% in week 49 to 75.3% in week 14. SARS-CoV-2 prevalence ranged from 2.2% (week 40) to 63.3% (week 14). Overall, SARS-CoV-2 was detected most frequently (27.3%), followed by rhinoviruses (14.6%, range 3.5–47.8%) and seasonal coronaviruses (3.7%, range 0–10.4%, mostly 229E and OC43). Influenzavirus was detected in 3.0% of participants from week 6 onwards. Conclusions: Integrated respiratory viral surveillance within public testing facilities is feasible and informative. Prevalences may be affected by changes in SARS-CoV-2 prevention and testing policies. Population characteristics help to interpret trends over time. Integrated surveillance may inform policymakers and hospitals for adequate response measures during respiratory seasons.