Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, can cause upper respiratory infections (such as colds) and lower respiratory tract infections (such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia). Almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday, and RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States. Premature infants and infants with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease have higher rates of RSV hospitalization.

Resources for the General Public

• Learn the basics about RSV (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Resources for Health Care Providers

• RSV Guidance for Healthcare Professionals: Overview of clinical presentation, laboratory testing, and prophylaxis (CDC)

RSV Surveillance Activity

• Alaska Respiratory Virus Snapshot Generally updated on Wednesdays from Oct-May
  
• CDC National & Regional RSV Surveillance Trends

RSV Prophylaxis and Vaccines in Alaska

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletins

Alaska Public Health Alert Network (PHAN) Alerts 

• 03/19/24: Recommendations for the Use of the RSVpreF Vaccine in Pregnancy and Nirsevimab in Infants and Young Children in Alaska during the 2023–24 Respiratory Disease Season
  
• 01/26/2024: Recommendations for the Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine in Pregnancy – Update for the Alaska 2023-2024 Season
  
• 12/18/2023:Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season
• 10/25/2023:Limited Availability of Nirsevimab in the United States—Interim CDC Recommendations to Protect Infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the 2023–2024 Respiratory Virus Season
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