Epidemiology of respiratory viruses according to age group, 2023–24 winter season, Kyoto, Japan

The seasonality and epidemiology of viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs) have changed since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, molecular-based ARI surveillance has not been conducted in Japan. We developed a regional surveillance program to define the local epidemiology of ARIs. Between December 2023 and March 2024, 2,992 upper respiratory samples collected from patients suspected of having ARIs at five facilities in Kyoto City, Japan, were tested for SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using RT‒PCR. Samples negative for these viruses were randomly selected for testing with the FilmArray Respiratory Panel, and the detection rates of other viruses were estimated. SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and RSV were detected in 598 (20.3%), 165 (5.6%), and 40 (1.4%) of the 2,949 samples with valid RT‒PCR results, respectively. The most prevalent viruses in the