Respiratory Syncytial Virus Cases Up Across the Southern U.S., CDC Warns - Self

On June 10, the CDC issued a health advisory alerting health care providers and caregivers about an unseasonable rise in cases of RSV, a common, flu-like respiratory illness that is usually mild but can cause serious sickness in vulnerable populations—including babies, young kids, and older adults who have chronic medical conditions.

And according to the advisory, babies and toddlers may be at particularly high risk for severe illness as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. .

RSV is a common virus, particularly among babies and young children.

While most cases are mild, RSV can sometimes cause serious illness, particularly in babies and people over 65.

The CDC is particularly concerned that the pandemic has put older babies and toddlers at risk for severe illness connected to RSV.

While RSV typically presents with flu-like symptoms in adults (including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, sore throat, fever, headache, fatigue, and decreased appetite), the illness can be less obvious in kids and babies.

Meanwhile, older babies, toddlers, and young kids might first experience a runny nose and reduced appetite, followed by sneezing, coughing, wheezing, or fever one to three days later, the CDC explains. .

The CDC recommends that health care providers and caregivers keep RSV symptoms for different age groups at top of mind, and consider testing for RSV in all patients who have symptoms of an acute respiratory illness—like trouble breathing, coughing, and fever—but test negative for COVID-19.