Respiratory Syncytial Virus - Defense Centers for Public Health

The CDC and military public health surveillance has shown an increase in RSV detections and RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in multiple U.S. regions.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is monitored in the Army family medical system (see our Influenza Surveillance reports).

What is RSV?

RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. This can be dangerous for infants, children, and older adults.

The CDC indicates that RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.

What can you do to prevent RSV?

There is no vaccine to prevent RSV, but preventive measures can help protect you and your loved ones from an RSV infection:

- cough or sneeze into a tissue or the upper sleeve of your shirt, - wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, - avoid close contact with others who are sick, - avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth, - clean and disinfect surfaces and objects, and - stay home when feeling sick.

Learn more at: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html External Link

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