"A wave of the highly contagious respiratory syncytial virus is sweeping across the United States - sending greater numbers of babies and toddlers to the hospital, recent data show. The onset of RSV comes as the country heads into the wider fall-and-winter respiratory virus season, also typically marked by increased circulation of ailments such as COVID-19 and the flu. But RSV, the leading cause of infant hospitalization nationwide,"
"RSV can spread through coughs or sneezes but also by touching a contaminated surface, such as a door handle, and then touching your face before washing your hands, health officials warn. For the week ending Oct. 11, about 1.2% of emergency room visits nationwide among infants younger than 1 were due to RSV - up from 0.4% a month earlier, according to data posted by PopHIVE, a project led by the Yale School of Public Health."
"RSV can be dangerous for infants, older adults and people with certain medical conditions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV can cause pneumonia, as well as a severe inflammation of the lungs' small airways, known as bronchiolitis, the California Department of Public Health said. "The issue with kids is that their airways are so small that when it causes inflammation in the airways, it's just very hard to breathe," said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert."
RSV cases are rising across the United States, increasing hospital visits among babies and toddlers as the fall-winter respiratory virus season begins. RSV spreads through coughs, sneezes and contaminated surfaces and is particularly dangerous for infants, older adults and people with certain medical conditions. Emergency department visits for infants under 1 due to RSV climbed to about 1.2% for the week ending Oct. 11, up from 0.4% a month earlier. RSV can cause pneumonia and bronchiolitis, and health authorities recommend vaccinating pregnant women near delivery or immunizing newborns to prevent severe illness.
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