The Rhône-Loire metropolitan areas' 2020/21 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemic was delayed following the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), compared with previous seasons. Very severe lower respiratory tract infection incidence among infants ≤ 3 months decreased twofold, the proportion of cases among children aged > 3 months to 5 years increased, and cases among adults > 65 years were markedly reduced. NPI appeared to reduce the RSV burden among at-risk groups, and should be promoted to minimise impact of future RSV outbreaks.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04944160.
Keywords: COVID-19; RSV; SARI; SARS-CoV-2; bronchiolitis; disease burden; non-pharmacological interventions; pharmacological interventions.