Common Respiratory Illnesses including Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Quick Facts about RSV
- The CDC estimates that between 110,000 and 180,000 adults aged 50 or older are hospitalized due to RSV in the United States.
- Hospital patients aged 60 years and older with RSV were more likely to have severe disease (require intensive care unit (ICU) admission, oxygen therapy, and non-invasive ventilation at higher rates) than same-aged patients with COVID-19 or influenza.
- In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first RSV vaccines for adults aged 60 and over.
- The CDC provides the most current recommendations for adult protection against RSV.
Information on this Safety and Health Topics Page (SHTP) will be updated as new information about RSV becomes available. Employers should ensure that they have the most up-to-date information when making decisions about workplace operations and planning.
On this page
Human Respiratory Syncytial [sinˈsiSHəl] Virus (RSV) usually causes mild respiratory disease in healthy adults but is the leading cause of infant hospitalization and can have debilitating consequences in older adults, especially those with weakened systems. Workers who are older and have certain health conditions should talk to their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated to prevent severe illness from RSV.
RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections. It is widely circulated among infants and children; nearly all children have been infected with RSV by their second birthday. Most adults have been exposed to or infected with RSV many times throughout their lifetime. Adults over 60 become more susceptible to serious illness from RSV if they have chronic health conditions or a weakened immune system.
Adults aged 60 and over with any of the following conditions are at highest risk of severe RSV disease:
- Chronic lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma, cystic fibrosis, etc.)
- Chronic heart disease (congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, etc.)
- Kidney disorder
- Liver disorder
- Diabetes mellitus
- Weakened immune system (cancer, HIV infection, immunosuppressed)
- Certain other underlying medical conditions
In addition, RSV can lead to development of pneumonia and can make existing chronic heart and lung diseases worse in susceptible adults.
RSV Symptoms
For most healthy adults, symptoms of RSV appear within 4-6 days of infection and are similar to that of a mild cold. These may include but are not limited to:
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
People with RSV may be contagious the day before symptoms begin and are contagious for 3 to 8 days.
Vaccines
The FDA approved the first RSV vaccines for adults, AREXVY and ABRYsVO®, in 2023 and mRESVIA in 2024. The CDC and ACIP recommend that all adults over the age of 75 and those over 60 who are at increased risk of severe disease be vaccinated. These vaccines are given in a single dose to protect against lower respiratory infections. In addition, ACIP has specific recommendations for vaccination of pregnant women against RSV to prevent lower respiratory tract infections in their newborn infants.
Employers should consider promoting RSV vaccination when appropriate. It is recommended that employees who meet the criteria for vaccination talk to their healthcare providers about RSV vaccination. Note that healthcare workers will benefit from taking extra precautions, including vaccination, to prevent illness.
For more information about RSV vaccines, see CDC's Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunizations.
Treatment
Over-the-counter medications may be used to treat the array of symptoms caused by RSV when no complications or secondary infections are present. These medications may be used for pain relief and/or fever (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen), decongestants, expectorants, and cough suppressants to relieve upper and lower respiratory congestion.