Respiratory Syncytial Virus

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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Snapshot

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild symptoms, similar to a cold. Most people recover within 1 to 2 weeks, but it can be serious for infants and older adults.

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Pulmonologists, Infectious Disease Specialists, Primary Care, Pediatricians, Geriatricians

People show symptoms within 4 to 6 days after infection, and symptoms typically appear in stages, rather than all at once.

Symptoms include: rhinorrhea (runny nose), decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing

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Testing is not typically required, as the symptoms are similar to a cold. A physician may run tests, such as a mouth swab or blood test to check white blood cell count and the presence of viruses.

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Globally, RSV affects 64 million people each year and causes 160,000 deaths annually. The virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation in the small airways of a person's lungs).

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RSV sends approximately 58,000 children aged 5 years or younger to hospitals for treatment every year. For the same population, 100 to 300 deaths can occur each year due to RSV. *United States data

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RSV in older adults results in 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations each year and approximately 6,000 to 10,000 adults aged 65 years or older die from the virus. *United States data

Research Summaries

Respiratory Diseases Roundup

Respiratory Diseases Roundup

SARS-CoV-2 and RSV Cardiopulmonary Risk Updates

04/06/2026

Kate Young

New reports link SARS-CoV-2 and RSV to persistent cardiopulmonary risk and describe distinct postviral lung and brain changes in a mouse model.

04/06/2026

Respiratory Diseases Roundup

Respiratory Diseases Roundup

The Latest in COVID-19 News: Vaccine Effectiveness, 4-in-1 Home Test, Metformin and Long COVID

04/03/2026

Kate Young

This roundup explores updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness data, an FDA-cleared 4-pathogen home test, and new evidence on metformin for long COVID risk.

04/03/2026

Research Summary

RSV Prefusion F Vaccine Significantly Reduces RSV-Related Hospitalizations in Older Adults in Denmark

02/09/2026

Ashton L. Stahl

A large pragmatic randomized trial evaluated whether a bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine could reduce RSV-related hospitalizations among adults aged 60 years or...

02/09/2026

Respiratory Diseases Roundup

Respiratory Diseases Roundup

Emerging Data on Durability, Immunogenicity, and Patient Trust

01/05/2026

Kate Young

New data describe durability of XBB.1.5 vaccine antibodies, platform-specific vaccine immunogenicity, CDC safety trust, and 2025 US uptake barriers.

01/05/2026

Research Summary

Research Summary

Bivalent RSV Vaccine Lowers Cardiorespiratory Hospitalizations in Older Adults

11/19/2025

Kate Young

In a nationwide Danish trial of more than 130,000 adults aged 60 years and older, a single dose of the bivalent RSV prefusion F protein vaccine reduced all-cause cardiorespiratory hospitalizations by nearly...

11/19/2025

April 2026

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April 2026

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