title: Seasonal variation in respiratory syncytial virus epidemics in the Gambia, West Africa.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks tend to occur seasonally and are a major cause of childhood morbidity. In The Gambia a regular pattern of outbreaks during six consecutive annual seasons was disrupted by 2 years of irregular outbreaks, followed by another 2 years of regular seasonal outbreaks. Improved understanding of the transmission dynamics of respiratory syncytial virus is essential to design and test effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratories Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Marianne A B
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van der Sande
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goetghebuer
authors.forename: Mariama
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanneh
authors.forename: Hilton C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: Martin W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012621:Seasons