RSV activity in Denmark
Current respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in Denmark — based on ECDC ERVISS weekly data from Statens Serum Institut (SSI).
Current situation: RSV
In week 15 of 2026, activity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Denmark is low. The trend — derived from clinical surveillance — is stable. Over a four-week comparison, a clear decline is visible.
The classification is based on the ECDC ERVISS weekly reports, drawing on RSV surveillance data from Statens Serum Institut (SSI) via sentinel primary-care surveillance, wastewater monitoring and genomic sequencing. Seasonally, infection waves in Denmark typically peak between December and February; activity is usually markedly lower in spring and summer. How severe a given season becomes depends on the circulating virus variant and the population's immune status, among other factors.
Data sources and methodology
The current picture for Denmark is built on the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS), published weekly by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Statens Serum Institut (SSI) is the national public-health authority that feeds ERVISS with sentinel primary care and virology data. Denmark combines sentinel primary-care surveillance with wastewater monitoring and genomic sequencing, so the ERVISS signal for Denmark is especially well-triangulated.
ECDC ERVISS
ERVISS is ECDC's weekly pan-European surveillance summary for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV. National authorities — in Denmark's case Statens Serum Institut (SSI) — submit harmonised indicators every week, which ECDC publishes in a standardised dataset on Thursdays. Using ERVISS rather than each country's native portal ensures cross-country comparability.
ILI / ARI consultation rates and positivity
Statens Serum Institut (SSI) operates a sentinel network of general practices that report weekly rates of patients consulting for influenza-like illness (ILI) or acute respiratory infection (ARI). A subset of patients is swabbed and tested by reference laboratories, producing pathogen-specific positivity rates for flu, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV.
Why this source
Combining consultation incidence with virological positivity yields a pathogen-specific weekly incidence signal (ILI × positivity / 100). This is the standard European methodology and provides a more robust view than either indicator alone — consultation rates capture illness burden, positivity confirms which pathogen is driving it.
Qualitative classification
The “low”, “moderate” and “high” categories follow seasonal reference values and epidemiological thresholds calibrated to match our classifications for other countries. The ILI × positivity / 100 product is scaled to comparable thresholds using a divisor of 3, which aligns European sentinel peaks with the consultation-equivalent scale used elsewhere. Data refreshes weekly when ECDC publishes the latest ERVISS update, typically on Thursdays.
Frequently asked questions
When is RSV season in Denmark?
Danish RSV seasons typically run from late autumn through early spring, with peaks most often between January and March. Post-pandemic seasons have been less predictable than pre-2020 patterns, with earlier or shifted peaks in some years. Statens Serum Institut publishes weekly RSV updates alongside flu and SARS-CoV-2 in its respiratory-virus surveillance.
How is RSV tracked in Denmark?
RSV surveillance in Denmark relies on mandatory laboratory reporting, sentinel virological testing coordinated by Statens Serum Institut, and hospital-admission data. Denmark's strong virological infrastructure means RSV trends are followed in unusual detail. Weekly results feed SSI's respiratory-virus bulletin and ECDC ERVISS, which lets Denmark's RSV curve be read alongside other Nordic and EU/EEA countries.
Who is most at risk from RSV in Denmark?
The groups at highest risk of severe RSV are infants — especially those under six months, preterm babies, and children with underlying heart or lung disease — and older adults, particularly those aged 75 and above or with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions. In otherwise healthy children and adults, RSV usually resembles a common cold.
Are RSV vaccines available in Denmark?
Since 2023, RSV vaccines have been authorised in the EU for older adults, and the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab is available for infants. Denmark has progressively adopted nirsevimab for infants entering their first RSV season and adult RSV vaccination in defined risk groups, in line with guidance from the Sundhedsstyrelsen. Statens Serum Institut monitors uptake and paediatric hospitalisation trends.
How does Denmark compare to other Nordic countries?
Because Denmark reports into ECDC ERVISS with the same tiering as the rest of the EU/EEA, its RSV curve can be compared directly with Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Nordic RSV peaks often cluster within a few weeks of each other, slightly later than central European peaks. This makes ECDC's side-by-side dashboard useful for anticipating paediatric pressure across borders.
Want the actual numbers?
You'll find them in the app.
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