National Reference Center (NRC) for Respiratory pathogens

General information

From 01.01.2025 on, the former NRC Respiratory Pathogens and NRC Influenza were merged into one large NRC Respiratory Pathogens.

Adenovirus, coronavirus including SARS, human parainfluenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and Influenza virus

Please contact the following websites if you would like to have more information about… 

• the near real-time weekly detection of respiratory pathogens at UZ Leuven: https://www.uzleuven.be/nl/laboratoriumgeneeskunde/wekelijkse-detectieresultaten-respiratoire-pathogenen 
• the respiratory bulletin: https://www.sciensano.be/nl/biblio/bulletin-acute-luchtweginfecties-week-02-2025-gepubliceerd-op-15012025
• FAQ zoonotic influenza: https://www.sciensano.be/nl/faq-zoonotische-influenza 

Important communication

Human surveillance on zoonotic influenza (21.01.2025)

Given the wide spread of avian influenza viruses, there is an increased risk of exposure for the human population to the virus and thus potential transmission of avian influenza viruses to humans. Furthermore, several European countries have reported an increasing number of human infections with swine influenza viruses. Therefore, in line with the recommendations from ECDC and WHO and the fact that zoonotic influenza is a notifiable disease, we encourage you to send in influenza A positive samples from patients with respiratory symptoms who had been in (in)direct contact with birds (wild or poultry), wild animals (dead or alive), pigs, ruminants, sick cats/dogs. Or from patients with viral encephalitis or meningoencephalitis for which no aetiological agent has been identified.

Call for participation in epidemiological surveillance RSV (05.11.2024)

Now that the RSV season has started, we would like to invite every laboratory again to participate in the epidemiological surveillance of this virus. In the context of current and new prevention strategies such as monoclonal antibody administration in the very young and vaccination of the elderly and pregnant women, it is crucial to monitor the genetic diversity of the virus. We, therefore, ask that each laboratory send a selection of 10 positive RSV samples per season (October — March) to our reference centre at UZ Leuven for further typing (only a proportion will be examined with full genome analysis). Preferably, this selection considers age: 5 samples from patients <6 years, 3 samples from patients >65 years, and 2 samples from patients aged 6-65 years. Only samples with a Ct value <20 and with a minimum volume of 700 µl may be sent. These respiratory samples may be sent together with a fully completed request form which can be found on this page. A representative set of all positive RSV samples will be analysed using whole-genome sequencing. Additionally, we actively call upon sending respiratory samples in the context of breakthrough cases with monoclonal antibodies or vaccines. You may send these samples accompanied by a fully completed application form to UZ Leuven.

Useful links

The slides of the information session (26/10/2023) regarding the activities of the NRC Respiratory Pathogens (UZ Leuven) can be consulted via: Information Session October 2023

You can consult the accompanying information (e.g. epidemiological surveillance) at: Health topic Influenza Health topic Coronavirus Health topic RSV