Respiratory Syncytial Virus
What is it?
- A virus that infects the respiratory tract (the airway).
- The most common cause of severe respiratory illness in children under 2 years, and the main cause of them being admitted to hospital with respiratory infection.
How does it spread?
- Originates and spreads from the respiratory tract of infected people.
- Transmitted through droplets in saliva and mucus from coughing or sneezing.
- Enters the body via the nose, mouth or eyes.
- Can spread from person to person via contaminated hands, frequently touched surfaces, used tissues etc.
Who is at risk?
- Anyone can be infected but the very young, the elderly and those with weaker immune systems are at most risk. The illness can be very severe in infants and the elderly.
- All children can contract RSV, however the older the child the milder the infection is likely to be.
Symptoms
- Cold like symptoms including a cough and possibly earache.
- In some cases it can cause severe conditions such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia that can require hospitalisation.
Prevent the spread
- When someone has a respiratory infection, everyone should wash their hands frequently and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Vulnerable people should avoid contact with anyone suffering from RSV.
- Encourage children to cover their mouths when they do cough or sneeze and wash their hands frequently.
- You can help prevent the spread of the virus by regularly disinfecting the surfaces that people come into contact with.
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Disinfect cleaning cloths by soaking them in a solution of dilute bleach overnight and drying them thoroughly.
