Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Statistics

RSV surveillance began in Australia through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) in 2021. It is a highly contagious virus that affects the airways and lungs and spreads easily. While it is generally mild it can cause problems such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Immunisation Coalition

RSV Activity Surveillance & Graph 2023

RSV is a highly contagious virus that affects the airways and lungs and spreads easily. While it is generally mild it can cause problems such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

RSV became a notifiable disease in Australia in 2021 and confirmed cases are now recorded in the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).

Click on the icon for a graph of current statistics.

National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)

Update for 29 May 2023

 

There have been 42,118 notifications of laboratory confirmed RSV reported to the NNDSS in the year to 29th May.

Total notifications from each state and territory are as follows: 

  • ACT:            538
  • NSW:          18,864
  • NT:              123
  • QLD:           12,164
  • SA:               1,699
  • TAS:            210
  • VIC:             7,642
  • WA:             878
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National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System: https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard/

New South Wales

Week ending 20 May 2023

 

Summary:

  • While RSV notifications increased by 20% since the previous week, though the rolling 7-day average number of notifications has remained relatively stable since late April 2023.

Queensland

Week ending 21 May 2023

 

There were a total of 919 confirmed cases of RSV for the week 15 – 21 May.

Total confirmed cases for 2023 YTD: 11,289

South Australia

14 – 20 May 2023

 

There were 246 cases of respiratory syncytial virus notified this week in 123 males and 123 females, with a median age of two years. There have been 1,507 cases of respiratory syncytial virus reported year-to-date, compared with 56 reported for the same period last year.

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For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

Report for the fortnight ending 21 May 2023

 

Summary:

  • The percentage of PCR tests positive for RSV increased slightly in the fortnight ending 14 May 2023 but remains low. 
  • From 1 January 2023 to 21 May 2023, a total of 350 RSV cases were reported in Tasmanian residents. Of these total cases, 119 cases resided in the North, 17 cases resided in the North-West, and 214 cases resided in the South. 
  • RSV cases increased this fortnight, with 51 cases notified in the fortnight ending 21 May 2023, compared to 13 cases notified in the fortnight ending 7 May 2023. The number of reported RSV cases statewide remains low. 
  • These trends in notifications indicate increasing RSV activity. 
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For more information: Respiratory Surveillance Report

Page Published: 19 April 2023 | Page Updated: 29 May 2023