CDC says respiratory virus spreading

A respiratory virus that is similar to the flu is spreading outside of its usual season across the United States and can cause serious illness in children and those with compromised immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Cases of "Respiratory Syncytial Virus'' (RSV) have spiked throughout the southern part of the US. Doctors report a rise of cases in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. It has also been detected in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

RSV usually peaks during cold and flu season, but it is appearing out of season this year during summertime. Highly contagious, the virus can affect the breathing passage, nose, lungs and throat. People infected with RSV are contagious for three to eight days.

Most people recover from RSV in one to two weeks, according to the CDC.

On June 10, the CDC issued a health advisory to clinicians and caregivers: "Due to this increased activity, CDC encourages broader testing for RSV among patients presenting with acute respiratory illness who test negative for COVID-19. RSV can be associated with severe disease in young children and older adults."

RSV spreads via respiratory droplets when a person coughs or sneezes and through direct contact with a contaminated surface like tables, doorknobs or cribs that have the virus on it, the CDC said.

It can also be spread by kissing the face of a child with the virus. It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year old in the US.

Charlie Hardin from Amarillo, Texas, was surprised when the youngest of his four children, Moxxon, got RSV because of the time of year.

"RSV was never on my radar because when our oldest child had it, it was just treated and wasn't a big deal," Hardin told television show Good Morning America. "And then with it being in the summertime, no one really thought it was RSV."

It isn't known why RSV cases are on the rise now. But it could be due to people mingling more as coronavirus lockdown eases and people wear fewer masks and interact, said Dr William Linam, pediatric infectious disease doctor at Children's Hospital of Atlanta.

Each year in the US, RSV leads to 58,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 500 deaths among children younger than 5, and 177,000 hospitalizations with 14,000 deaths among adults 65 years or older, figures from the CDC show.

Infants and toddlers are at increased risk of catching severe RSV-associated illness because they have likely not had typical levels of exposure to RSV during the past 15 months, the CDC said.

Symptoms of RSV varies across age groups. In infants younger than 6 months, RSV infections may result in symptoms of irritability, poor feeding, lethargy and or apnea with or without fever.

In older infants and young children, rhinorrhea and decreased appetite may appear one to three days before a cough, often followed by sneezing, fever and sometimes wheezing.

Symptoms in adults are typically consistent with upper respiratory tract infections, including rhinorrhea, pharyngitis, cough, headache, fatigue and fever.

Most people recover from RSV in one to two weeks, according to the CDC.

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases advises that the best way to help prevent the spread of RSV is to cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Also, avoid close contact, such as kissing and shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils with others. Also, avoid touching the face with unwashed hands.

People should clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs.

Researchers are working to develop an RSV vaccine. A drug called palivizumab is available to prevent severe RSV illness in certain infants and children at high risk.