Here’s Where RSV Is Starting to Rise in the U.S., According to the CDC

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

Key Takeaways

• Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are increasing in the Southeastern part of the United States, particularly in Florida and Georgia.

• Expect to see cases spreading in other parts of the country, including the north and west in the next 2 to 3 months.

• Experts recommend following health protocols like hand washing and getting vaccinated to prevent RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity is increasing in Southeastern parts of the United States, according to a health alert issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing, Laura Hammitt, MD, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Director of Infectious Disease Programs at the Center for Indigenous Health, told Verywell in an email.

In young infants who have tiny airways, the virus can cause their lungs to fill with mucus, making it difficult for them to breathe. Other symptoms of infection in babies can include irritability, decreased activity, and eating or drinking less, Hammitt said.

The virus can spread very similarly to that of COVID-19, including when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Hammitt said it can also spread if you touch a contaminated surface, like a countertop, railing, or door handle, and then touch your face before washing your hands.

“For most people, RSV is a mild illness, but it can cause serious illness in young children, particularly infants under 6 months, and in older adults.”

In fact, it is the leading cause of hospitalization for bronchitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age, Hammitt said. Older adults, especially those who are immunocompromised or have underlying conditions such as heart and lung disease, can also get severe RSV illness, even requiring hospitalization.

Regardless of your risk level for RSV, anyone can become infected. Here’s where RSV activity is starting to rise in the U.S. and what you can do to protect yourself, according to experts.

Related: A New Vaccine Could Save the Lives of Over 6,000 Older Adults Each Year

Where Is RSV Activity Increasing?

This month, RSV activity is increasing in the Southeastern part of the United States, particularly in Florida, Kate Grusich, a spokesperson for the CDC, told Verywell in an email.

Traditionally, RSV season in the U.S. starts in the fall and peaks in the winter, similar to the flu and other respiratory viruses, Grusich said. However, RSV infections this time of year are much higher than usual, especially in states like Florida.

“The timing of increases in RSV activity in the Southeastern U.S. suggests a continued shift toward pre-pandemic seasonal trends,” said Grusich. “Historically, such regional increases have predicted the beginning of RSV season nationally.”

Related: When Is Flu Season?

Across the country, the weekly percentage of positive detections for RSV has remained “low in the past two consecutive weeks,” which means it falls below the 3% threshold of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test positivity, Grusich explained. Positive detections of RSV are reported to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), a national laboratory-based surveillance network.

Florida: NREVSS data shows the weekly rate of positive PCR tests in Florida began to increase above 3% starting from the week ending on July 22, 2023. In addition, over the past four weeks, the three-week average of PCR test positivity for RSV in Florida has been consistently above 5%, which is higher than the usual 3% threshold typically seen at the beginning of the RSV season, Grusich added.

“More robust data are available through Florida’s sentinel surveillance, which also shows PCR positivity just under 5% for the most recent week,” she said.

Georgia: According to the CDC, RSV activity this year is also much higher than usual in states like Georgia. Specifically, the CDC has observed a rise in rates of RSV-related hospitalizations, which are reported to RSV-NET. Among those under age 4, RSV-linked hospitalization rates have risen from 2.0 hospitalizations per 100,000 population for the week ending August 5 to 12 hospitalizations per 100,000 population for the week ending Sept. 2, with the majority occurring among babies under the age of 1, said Grusich.

Hammitt added although RSV cases remain low across most of the country, the report of rising cases in the Southeastern U.S. suggests that “we might have an earlier than usual RSV season again this year.”

Related: Here's How to Plan For Your Seasonal Vaccinations This Fall

Does This Mean RSV Cases Will Increase Nationwide Soon?

Historically, when there are regional increases in RSV, it is an indication that the RSV season has begun, Hammitt said. Since RSV activity and hospitalizations have been increasing in Southeastern parts of the U.S., experts say we can expect to see more cases spreading across the country, including in the north and west.

“An increase in RSV detections and hospitalizations like this, at this time of year, signals the beginning of RSV season, with detections and hospitalizations predicted to increase in other parts of the country over the next two to three months,” Grusich added.

Dean Winslow, MD, professor of medicine at Stanford University, said RSV cases will continue to increase nationwide during the fall and winter months because more people tend to spend time indoors, which can further viral transmission of RSV and other respiratory viruses.

“Rather than just scattered areas around the country, we will see a more generalized increase in RSV Infections in both adults and children as the fall progresses, especially as we spend more time indoors,” Winslow told Verywell.

How This RSV Season Compares to Previous Years

In the U.S., annual community outbreaks of RSV infections generally occur during late fall, winter, and early spring, with the highest number of cases occurring from late December to mid-February, depending on the location, Hammitt said.

However, this pattern was likely disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic because of public health measures like masking, social distancing, and hand washing that were put into place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Last year’s RSV season “started in late summer, peaked in the fall, and declined rapidly by winter,” said Hammitt.

Although experts expect the RSV season to start earlier than usual compared to previous years, they also anticipate that the current season will resemble what was considered typical or usual before the pandemic, with the possibility of an increase in cases of respiratory viruses.

“Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in 2020–22 we saw lower cases of many respiratory viruses than in pre-COVID-19 years,” Winslow said. “My prediction is that the 2023–24 season will be more like ‘normal’.”

Related: The 10 Best COVID-19 Face Masks to Mitigate Airborne Illness

How to Protect Yourself

One major recommendation that experts have to protect yourself and others from RSV is to get vaccinated. Specifically, people over the age of 60 can get an RSV vaccine after talking with their doctor to see if it’s right for them, Hammitt said.

There are currently two vaccines available for older adults, including the RSVpreF vaccine (Abrysvo) and the RSVpreF3 vaccine (Arexvy), both of which were shown to reduce RSV lung and lower airway infection.

All infants younger than 8 months old who are entering their first RSV season should get a shot of newly-approved Beyfortus (nirsevimab).

“One dose of this long-acting monoclonal antibody can protect infants for 5 months, the length of a typical RSV season,” said Hammitt. High-risk children between the ages of 8 and 19 months should get the shot as well.

Another option for preventing RSV in young babies is a vaccine that is administered during pregnancy. The FDA approved Abrysvo for use in pregnant people during 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy for prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in babies.

Beyond immunization, there are several health measures that people can take to prevent the spread of RSV.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid close contact like kissing and shaking hands with others.

• Stay away from people who are sick.

• Refrain from sharing cups and eating utensils with others.

• Clean high-touch surfaces including door knobs, phones, and remote controls.

• Wear a mask, especially in crowded indoor environments.

• Limit the time spent in childcare centers and other potentially contagious settings during periods of high RSV activity.

• Do not touch your face, eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

“As we head into another potentially active respiratory virus season this fall, it’s important to use these available strategies and prevention tools to lower your chances of catching or spreading a respiratory virus and lower your likelihood of getting very sick if you do catch one,” said Grusich. 

What This Means For You

Cases of RSV are rising in some parts of the Southeastern United States, including in Florida and Georgia. Regardless of where you live, experts say it’s important to take steps to prevent the spread of RSV, including washing your hands, getting vaccinated, if eligible, and avoiding close contact with others, especially if they are sick.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.