Trends in human parainfluenza virus in Scotland before and after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, January 2017 to October 2023.

BackgroundHuman parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) commonly cause upper respiratory tract infections, with potential for severe lower respiratory complications. Understanding seasonal increases informs strategies to prevent HPIV spreading.AimWe examined the impact of COVID-19 on HPIV epidemiological and clinical patterns in Scotland using non-sentinel and sentinel surveillance data.

The Community Acute Respiratory Infection surveillance programme: an evaluation of a newly established surveillance programme in Scotland.

The Community Acute Respiratory Infection (CARI) surveillance programme, established by Public Health Scotland (PHS) in November 2021, aims to monitor respiratory infections in communities, replacing prior schemes to ensure early detection of outbreaks and inform public health interventions. Positioned as a cornerstone of PHS's national infectious respiratory diseases plan, CARI is pivotal for safeguarding public health. This study presents key findings from the 2022/23 CARI season and evaluates the programme's performance during this period.