Infants, young children, older adults, and especially people with medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness from RSV infection. Every year, authorities estimate that the virus causes up to 80,000 hospitalizations and 300 deaths in children under 5 and up to 160,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths in adults 65 and older. are doing.
increase in cases According to the agency, the infection was confirmed through PCR tests conducted in Florida from the week ending July 22. Georgia has observed an increase in RSV-related hospitalizations among children and infants.
“Historically, regional increases like this have predicted the beginning of a national RSV epidemic, with increased RSV activity spreading north and west over the next two to three months,” CDC said. said.
The respiratory syncytial virus season typically begins in the fall and peaks in the winter, but coronavirus prevention measures during the pandemic have disrupted this pattern, officials said. Last year, RSV activity began in the summer, peaked in October and November, and declined in the winter, the report said.
The virus spreads primarily through droplets when people cough or sneeze, or through direct contact with contaminated surfaces, the agency said.
For people 60 and older, the CDC said doctors should recommend a single dose of one of the two RSV vaccines approved this year: Pfizer’s Abrysvo and GSK’s Arexvy. . The CDC recommends people in that age group talk to their doctors about the benefits and risks of vaccination.
The Food and Drug Administration last month approved Abrysvo for use in pregnant people to protect infants from severe cases of RSV.
Nilsevimab (Bayfortus), a monoclonal antibody designed to protect infants from RSV, was approved in July. The CDC said Tuesday that all infants younger than 8 months who are “born during or entering their first RSV season” should receive a single treatment, while they are at high risk for severe RSV disease. It recommended that infants and children between the ages of 19 months and 19 months should receive a single dose. Administer once before or during the second season.
The CDC said the vaccine is expected to be available in early October, adding that it “may not be immediately available in all birthing hospitals or primary care settings this RSV season.”