Protect Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus

RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but it can lead to serious illness, especially for infants and older adults. Wash your hands often to help protect yourself and others from RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, can cause severe lung infections, including bronchiolitis (infection of small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia (an infection of the lungs). Each year in the United States, more than 57,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to RSV infection. Additionally, about 177,000 older adults are hospitalized annually with an RSV infection, and about 14,000 of them die from it.

Those who have a higher risk for severe illness caused by RSV include:

Young infants (<6 months of age)
Premature babies
Older adults, especially those 65 years and older
People with chronic lung disease or certain heart problems
People with weakened immune systems, such as from HIV infection, organ transplants, or specific medical treatments like chemotherapy