The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is warning healthcare providers about rising cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) throughout the Southeast, signaling the virus could be spreading nationwide soon.
In past years, regional increases have predicted the beginning of the RSV season nationally, the CDC wrote in its advisory, with “increased RSV activity spreading north and west over the following 2–3 months.”
The viral illness causes mild, cold-like symptoms for most people but infants, young children, and older adults are more likely to have severe symptoms that could require hospitalization.
To avoid the strain that last year's outbreak put on hospitals and emergency rooms, public health officials have approved two new RSV vaccines for adults 60 and older and an antibody treatment for infants and young children.
