letter

. 2016 Apr 7;173(3):380–393. doi: 10.1111/bjh.14027

Table 1.

Common respiratory virus characteristics

Virus	Type	Classification	Seasonal variation (USA, Western Europe)	Median incubation perioda	Mode of transmission
RSV	Paramyxoviridae RNA virus – negative sense Genus Pneumovirus	2 types: A and B (Moore et al, 2013)	Autumn, winter, spring (Shah & Chemaly, 2011)	4·4 d (Lessler et al, 2009)	Direct or indirect contact, possibly droplet spray (Pica & Bouvier, 2012)
HPIV	Paramyxoviridae RNA virus – negative sense HPIV 1 and 3: Genus Respirovirus; HPIV 2 and 4: Genus Rubulavirus (Schomacker et al, 2012)	Serotypes: 1–4 (HPIV3 most likely to cause LRTI) (Schomacker et al, 2012)	HPIV3: spring/summer HPIV1: autumn/winter HPIV2: autumn (Henrickson, 2003; Fry et al, 2006)	2·6 d (Lessler et al, 2009)	Direct or close contact with droplets or large particle aerosols (limited evidence) (Henrickson, 2003)
Influenza	Orthomyxoviridae RNA virus – negative sense Genus Influenzavirus	3 subtypes: A, B, C further subtyped based on surface haemagglutinins (HA, H1‐16) and neuroaminidases (NA, N 1‐9) (Reviewed in Ison, 2011)	Winter, novel influenza A can lead to pandemic outbreaks (Chretien et al, 2014)	Influenza A –1·4 d Influenza B –0·6 d (Lessler et al, 2009	Contact, droplet spray and/or aerosol (Pica & Bouvier, 2012)
HMPV	Paramyxoviridae, RNA virus – negative sense Genus Metapneumovirus (Haas et al, 2013)	2 subtypes: HMPVA and HMPVB (Haas et al, 2013)	Late winter, early spring (Haas et al, 2013)	Range: 4–6 d (Haas et al, 2013)	Direct or close contact with droplets, large particle aerosols or saliva (Haas et al, 2013)
Rhinovirus	Picornaviridae RNA virus – positive sense Genus Rhinovirus (Moore et al, 2013)	3 species: A, B, C, numerous subtypes (>100) (Moore et al, 2013)	All seasons	1·9 d (Lessler et al, 2009)	Contact (direct or via fomite) or aerosol (large or small particle). Conjunctival/intranasal inoculation (not via oral route) (Jacobs et al, 2013b)

Virus

Type

Classification

Seasonal variation (USA, Western Europe)

Median incubation perioda

Mode of transmission

RSV

Paramyxoviridae RNA virus – negative sense

Genus Pneumovirus

2 types: A and B

(Moore et al, 2013)

Autumn, winter, spring

(Shah & Chemaly, 2011)

4·4 d

(Lessler et al, 2009)

Direct or indirect contact, possibly droplet spray

(Pica & Bouvier, 2012)

HPIV

Paramyxoviridae RNA virus – negative sense

HPIV 1 and 3: Genus Respirovirus;

HPIV 2 and 4: Genus Rubulavirus

(Schomacker et al, 2012)

Serotypes: 1–4

(HPIV3 most likely to cause LRTI)

(Schomacker et al, 2012)

HPIV3: spring/summer

HPIV1: autumn/winter

HPIV2: autumn

(Henrickson, 2003; Fry et al, 2006)

2·6 d

(Lessler et al, 2009)

Direct or close contact with droplets or large particle aerosols (limited evidence)

(Henrickson, 2003)

Influenza

Orthomyxoviridae RNA virus – negative sense

Genus Influenzavirus

3 subtypes: A, B, C further subtyped based on surface haemagglutinins (HA, H1‐16) and neuroaminidases (NA, N 1‐9)

(Reviewed in Ison, 2011)

Winter, novel influenza A can lead to pandemic outbreaks

(Chretien et al, 2014)

Influenza A –1·4 d

Influenza B –0·6 d

(Lessler et al, 2009

Contact, droplet spray and/or aerosol

(Pica & Bouvier, 2012)

HMPV

Paramyxoviridae, RNA virus – negative sense

Genus Metapneumovirus

(Haas et al, 2013)

2 subtypes: HMPVA and HMPVB

(Haas et al, 2013)

Late winter, early spring

(Haas et al, 2013)

Range: 4–6 d

(Haas et al, 2013)

Direct or close contact with droplets, large particle aerosols or saliva

(Haas et al, 2013)

Rhinovirus

Picornaviridae RNA virus – positive sense

Genus Rhinovirus

(Moore et al, 2013)

3 species: A, B, C, numerous subtypes (>100)

(Moore et al, 2013)

All seasons

1·9 d

(Lessler et al, 2009)

Contact (direct or via fomite) or aerosol (large or small particle). Conjunctival/intranasal inoculation (not via oral route)

(Jacobs et al, 2013b)

RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; HPIV, human parainfluenza; HMPV, human metapneumovirus; LRTI, lower respiratory tract infection.

Not specific for immunocompromised patients.

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