When you or your family member fall sick, the cause could be RSV. When you or your family member fall sick, the cause could be RSV.

The cause behind respiratory tract symptoms might remain unknown.

Learn more about the risk of RSV in older adults.

Style
anchor-buttons, tablet-one-line
Style
font-size-l

About RSV

High risk adults & older adults

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious pathogen and its incidence tends to overlap with influenza season, typically occurring between November and May in the US.1-3

RSV can affect everyone, and could progress to severe outcomes & hospitalization in certain high risk groups2,4,5.

Groups at increased risk include2,5:

Preterm babies aged 6 months or younger5

Preterm babies aged 6 months or younger

Children with chronic conditions, aged less than two years5

Children with chronic conditions, aged less than two years

Older adults(≥ 65 years of age)2

Older adults(≥ 65 years of age)

Those with an immunodeficiency2,5

Those with an immunodeficiency

Patients with certain chronic illnesses

Such as chronic heart or lung disease2,5

Patients with certain chronic illnesses

Learn more about RSV in infants.

Style
container-960

Potential Outcomes for At-Risk Adults

Potential outcomes for older adults

potencial.svg/ It can progress to severe outcomes & hospitalization /248/111
Typical presentation includes cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, and headache. Infections may resolve within 7 to 14 days. It can progress to severe outcomes & hospitalization2,6

Knowledge of RSV in Older Adults

LIKE INFLUENZA, RSV CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS OUTCOMES IN OLDER ADULTS2,7,8

Estimated annual hospitalizations and deaths as reported by the CDC in adults 65 years and older
RSV
INFLUENZA
Hospitalizations*
60,000-120,000
~128,000-467,000
Deaths*
6,000-10,000
~12,000-43,000
CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
*
Data estimated from 2015 through 2022. Some of the data used to calculate burden estimates are incomplete or not yet available to the CDC. These estimates will change as those data become available and the estimates are updated.

IN ONE STUDY OF ADULTS 60 YEARS AND OLDER HOSPITALIZED WITH RSV, SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS OCCURED9

From a US-based observational study of adults ≥60 years hospitalized with RSV, approximately two-thirds were ≥75 years and >30% had ischemic heart disease, CHF, diabetes, or COPD/chronic bronchitis/emphysema. In this study†:

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
18% were
admitted to the ICU
Pneumonia
~50% had confirmed pneumonia
One in six people
1 in 6
Were readmitted within 30 days of discharge
CHF=congestive heart failure; COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
†
In a US study of 664 hospitalized adults 60 years and older who tested positive for RSV between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2015, identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
IS IT INFLUENZA? IS IT RSV？

IS IT INFLUENZA? IS IT RSV？

Uncover more about RSV in this digital brochure.

Download brochure

RSV CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS IN THOSE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Those 60 years and older with confirmed RSV, who also had CPD or COPD, experienced the following pulmonary complications10‡:
pneumonia.svg/ Pneumonia/119/111
Pneumonia
tachypnea.svg/Tachypnea (Abnormally rapid breathing) /101/111
Tachypnea (Abnormally rapid breathing)
hypoxia.svg/Hypoxia (Low levels of oxygen in one’s body tissues) /96/111
Hypoxia (Low levels of oxygen in one’s body tissues)
need-oxygen.svg/Greater need for oxygen supplementation /103/111
Greater need for oxygen supplementation
CPD=cardiopulmonary disease.
‡
From a US-based observational study that examined data from 645 adults ≥60 years hospitalized with RSV over 5 seasons.

Some older adults face a higher risk of RSV-associated morbidity and mortality11

CHRONIC HEART DISEASE, COPD, ASTHMA, AND OTHER SELECTED COMORBIDITIES ARE ALL RISK FACTORS FOR SEVERE RSV.11

IN A STUDY OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH CORE RISK FACTORS# FOR SEVERE RSV OR INFLUENZA11

A GREATER PROPORTION OF PATIENTS WITH RSV AND CORE RISK FACTORS REQUIRED HOSPITAL STAYS >3 DAYS COMPARED TO PATIENTS WITH INFLUENZA AND CORE RISK FACTORS11

RSV PATIENTS EXPERIENCED MORE COMPLICATIONS DURING HOSPITALIZATION, INCLUDING LOWER RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS, CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS, AND BACTERIAL SUPERINFECTIONS, COMPARED TO PATIENTS WITH INFLUENZA11
lower-respiratory-complications.svg/Lower respiratory complications/119/111
Lower respiratory complications
cardiovascular-complications.svg/Cardiovascular complications/120/111

Cardiovascular

complications

Bacterial superinfections

Bacterial

superinfections

#Core risk factors included any one or a combination of the following: age ≥65 years, chronic heart disease, COPD, and asthma11

UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN THAT RSV CAN BE

Watch these patient testimonies to find out how RSV has affected the daily lives of many.
account_id
1852113022001
player_id
g2OtgoAoBs
video_id
6359669881112
poster
UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN THAT RSV CAN BE

Stop the spread of RSV

Despite the burden of RSV, RSV is mainly tackled by supportive care like drinking more fluids13, and there is no widely accessible specific prevention option, but we can still stop the spread of RSV at home and at school.

You can2:

coughs.svg/Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing /47/111
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
wash.svg/Wash your hands frequently with water and soap/51/111
Wash your hands frequently with water and soap
avoid-close.svg/Avoid close contact with those showing symptoms of flu/113/111
Avoid close contact with those showing symptoms of flu
clean.svg/ Clean and sanitise surfaces regularly/67/111
Clean and sanitise surfaces regularly
go.svg/Click/117/117

For more information on adult RSV infection, please visit the Centre of Health Protection website.

Visit chp.gov

RSV Transmission

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW RSV?

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN THIS QUIZ.

Who can get infected with RSV?

People of all ages, both healthy and with certain underlying conditions, are potentially susceptible to RSV.2,4,5

Correct!

The answer is yes.
Everyone can get infected with RSV.

In a US study of adults 60 years and older hospitalized with confirmed RSV, 18% were admitted to the ICU.9*

* In a US study of hospitalized adults 60 years and older who tested positive for RSV between Jan 1, 2011 and Jun 30, 2015, identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

That’s right. Even more startling is that approximately 50% of adult patients also had confirmed pneumonia and 1 in 6 were readmitted within 30 days of discharge.9*

Actually, all of these statistics from this study of adults ≥60 years hospitalized for RSV are true. Even more startling is that approximately 50% of adult patients also had confirmed pneumonia and 1 in 6 were readmitted within 30 days of discharge.9*

WHAT IS RSV?

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a highly contagious virus. While most people experience mild symptoms that resolve on their own. RSV-associated acute respiratory infection can in some cases cause severe respiratory symptoms.1,2,5,12

RSV CAN BE EASILY MISTAKEN FOR INFLUENZA3

Like influenza, RSV is an RNA virus that is spread through close contact with infected individuals or contact with a contaminated surface. RSV incidence also tends to overlap with influenza season, typically occurring between late fall and early spring in the US.2,3

RSV ONLY AFFECTS THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT.2

That’s right. RSV typically begins with common signs of upper respiratory tract infection but can progress to lower respiratory tract infection too.2,9

Sorry, that’s not accurate. RSV typically begins with common signs of upper respiratory tract infection but can progress to lower respiratory tract infection too.2,9

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW RSV AFFECTS OLDER ADULTS.

Infants

RSV affects not only adults.

Learn more about RSV in infants

References: 1. Bueno SM, González PA, Cautivo KM, et al. Protective T cell immunity against respiratory syncytial virus is efficiently induced by recombinant BCG. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(52):20822-20827. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older adults are at a high risk for severe RSV infection. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/factsheet-older-adults.pdf 3. Talbot HK, Belongia EA, Walsh EE, Schaffner W. Respiratory syncytial virus in older adults: a hidden annual epidemic. Infect Dis Clin Pract (Baltim Md). 2016;24:295-302. 4. Hall CB. Nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections: the "Cold War" has not ended. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31(2):590-596. 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV in infants and young children. Updated October 2020. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/downloads/RSV-in-Infants-and-Young-Children.pdf 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): for healthcare providers. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/clinical/index.html 7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Past seasons estimated influenza disease burden. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV research and surveillance. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/research/index.html 9. Tseng HF, Sy LS, Ackerson B, et al. Severe morbidity and short- and mid- to long-term mortality in older adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infection. J Infect Dis. 2020;222(8):1298-1310. 10. Ackerson B, Tseng HF, Sy LS, et al. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory syncytial virus versus influenza infection in hospitalized older adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(2):197-203. 11. Hartnett J, Donga P, Ispas G, et al. Risk factors and medical resource utilization in US adults hospitalized with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus in the Hospitalized Acute Respiratory Tract Infection study. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2022;16(5):906-915. 12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): symptoms and care. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html 13. Gatt D, Martin I, AlFouzan R, Moraes TJ. Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Pathogens. 2023;12(2):154. Published 2023 Jan 17. doi:10.3390/pathogens12020154