Uganda detected two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among 45 respiratory specimens tested at four sentinel hospitals during the week of 31 August to 6 September 2026, according to respiratory surveillance data from the Makerere University Walter Reed Program.
One of the infections was RSV type A, detected in a patient with influenza-like illness, while the other was RSV type B, found in a patient with severe acute respiratory infection.
Both infections were detected at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, which tested 13 of the 45 specimens collected during the week.
The other samples came from Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kiruddu National Referral Hospital and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, which tested 14, 11 and seven specimens respectively.
The samples were analysed using the RespiFinder Multiplex real-time PCR kit, which tests for multiple respiratory pathogens.
RSV was detected in two specimens, while adenovirus was the most frequently detected viral pathogen, found in eight samples, representing 17.8% of those tested.
The findings come from Uganda’s sentinel respiratory surveillance system, which monitors respiratory infections at selected health facilities. They therefore provide a snapshot of viruses detected among patients presenting at the participating hospitals during the reporting period rather than an estimate of the national burden of RSV.
The two RSV infections also occurred in patients with different clinical presentations. The RSV-A infection was detected in a patient classified as having influenza-like illness, while the RSV-B infection was found in a patient with severe acute respiratory infection.
The surveillance data do not provide the ages or outcomes of the two patients.
RSV prevention gains momentum
The Ugandan detections come as new tools to prevent severe RSV disease are becoming available globally, particularly for infants and older adults.
In September 2026, the World Health Organization prequalified a multi-dose presentation of the RSVpreF vaccine, Abrysvo, adding to the WHO-prequalified RSV vaccine options. WHO had previously prequalified the single-dose presentation in March 2025.
The developments are relevant for countries considering how to introduce RSV prevention as part of national immunisation programmes.
For Uganda, however, the Week 36 findings do not yet establish the scale or seasonal pattern of RSV transmission across the country. Two detections from 45 specimens provide evidence that RSV was circulating among patients sampled through the sentinel system, but cannot be used to estimate how many people were infected nationally.
Longer-term surveillance could help establish when RSV transmission increases, which age groups are most affected and how frequently infections result in severe respiratory disease.
For a country considering new RSV prevention options, such information could also help inform decisions about where and when interventions are most needed.
The timeline
31 August–6 September 2026: Four sentinel hospitals collect 45 respiratory specimens.
During Epi Week 36: Two RSV infections are detected at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, one RSV-A in a patient with influenza-like illness and one RSV-B in a patient with severe acute respiratory infection.
September 2026: WHO prequalifies a multi-dose presentation of the RSVpreF vaccine, Abrysvo.
March 2025: WHO had previously prequalified the single-dose presentation of the vaccine.
Source: Makerere University Walter Reed Program respiratory sentinel surveillance data, Uganda, Epidemiological Week 36, 31 August–6 September 2026.
