Respiratory viruses
28 December 2020 12:27
Pre COVID-19 statistics:
• Viruses account for more episodes of respiratory tract disease than any other microbial
pathogens.
• Lead to increased morbidity and mortality in both paediatric and adult populations throughout
the world
• Annually, between 29-59 million people in the US become infected with influenza virus
– >200,000 are hospitalised
– Approx. 36,000 die
• In addition, nearly 500 million people in the US experience two or more non-influenza related
viral respiratory tract infections each year
• The economic burden of these yearly influenza outbreaks and non-influenza related viral
respiratory infections is ~$87.1 billion and $40 billion, respectively.
Types of Respiratory Viruses
Negative Strand RNA viruses:
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Influenza virus (IV)
• Parainfluenza virus (PIV)
• Metapneumovirus (MPV)
• Rhinovirus (RhV)
• Hantaviruses (rare)
Double Stranded DNA viruses:
• Adenovirus species B, C and E
• Herpesviruses
Positive Strand RNA viruses:
• Coronavirus (CoV)
Influenza A virus infection is a very common respiratory infection. Rhinovirus causes common cold
and so they are prevalent throughout the years.
Clinical presentations/ complications
• Common cold/ fever/ asymptomatic
– Rhinovirus, RSV, PIV, Flu, Adenovirus, Coronaviruses
• Tonsillopharyngitis
– As above + HSV, CMV, EBV
• Bronchitis
– RSV, PIV, Adenovirus, HSV
• Pneumonia/severe lung disease
– Adenovirus, PIV, RSV, VZV, Measles, CMV, HSV, Hantavirus, SARS-CoV-2
• Other (taste disturbance, continuous cough)
– SARS-CoV-2
Vaccine and drug trials against respiratory viruses currently in progress (pre SARS CoV-2)
Interventions to "Stop" pandemics
• Isolation - effective but only works if it is deployed very early in the infection
Respiratory viruses Page 1
28 December 2020 12:27
Pre COVID-19 statistics:
• Viruses account for more episodes of respiratory tract disease than any other microbial
pathogens.
• Lead to increased morbidity and mortality in both paediatric and adult populations throughout
the world
• Annually, between 29-59 million people in the US become infected with influenza virus
– >200,000 are hospitalised
– Approx. 36,000 die
• In addition, nearly 500 million people in the US experience two or more non-influenza related
viral respiratory tract infections each year
• The economic burden of these yearly influenza outbreaks and non-influenza related viral
respiratory infections is ~$87.1 billion and $40 billion, respectively.
Types of Respiratory Viruses
Negative Strand RNA viruses:
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Influenza virus (IV)
• Parainfluenza virus (PIV)
• Metapneumovirus (MPV)
• Rhinovirus (RhV)
• Hantaviruses (rare)
Double Stranded DNA viruses:
• Adenovirus species B, C and E
• Herpesviruses
Positive Strand RNA viruses:
• Coronavirus (CoV)
Influenza A virus infection is a very common respiratory infection. Rhinovirus causes common cold
and so they are prevalent throughout the years.
Clinical presentations/ complications
• Common cold/ fever/ asymptomatic
– Rhinovirus, RSV, PIV, Flu, Adenovirus, Coronaviruses
• Tonsillopharyngitis
– As above + HSV, CMV, EBV
• Bronchitis
– RSV, PIV, Adenovirus, HSV
• Pneumonia/severe lung disease
– Adenovirus, PIV, RSV, VZV, Measles, CMV, HSV, Hantavirus, SARS-CoV-2
• Other (taste disturbance, continuous cough)
– SARS-CoV-2
Vaccine and drug trials against respiratory viruses currently in progress (pre SARS CoV-2)
Interventions to "Stop" pandemics
• Isolation - effective but only works if it is deployed very early in the infection
Respiratory viruses Page 1
