CINCINNATI — Babies aren’t the only age group that can be impacted by respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV.

Older adults and ones with chronic medical conditions are at a higher risk of getting it at higher rates too, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from the American Lung Association shows that nearly 60,000 to 120,000 older adults are hospitalized every year because of RSV, and 6,000 to 10,000 die from it.

What You Need To Know

  • RSV is a common respiratory virus with cold-like symptoms

  • Someone with a good immune system can probably recover from it within a week or two, but adults with a weaker immune system will struggle

  • Washing your hands or getting the RSV shot can help

“While children, especially those under a year of age, are very vulnerable,” said Dr. Carl Lichtenbaum, University of Cincinnati professor of infectious diseases. “Individuals who are over 60 are also really part of that vulnerable group, particularly if you have harder lung disease or if you have an immune condition such as cancer or HIV that may affect your ability to fight off infections.”

Fichtenbaum said RSV is a common respiratory virus with cold-like symptoms. 

“They'll have a runny nose and maybe a little cough and a little sore throat, but you can get wheezing and a little bit of shortness of breath and people can get fever and it can lead to pneumonia,” he said.

Someone with a good immune system can probably recover from it within a week or two. But infants and older adults, who may have weaker immune systems, struggle more to fight it off.

“The slope of the curve is just starting to rise now,” he said. “And I really expect that we'll see much more of a peak in November, December, January.”

But Fichtenbaum said there are ways to protect yourself from the virus. One of which is making sure to regularly wash your hands.

“It's also good practice to maybe stay away from the big parties and crowds that we tend to have on the inside during the colder winter months,” he said. “And then I think you also have to check in with family and friends to see if anybody has been sick or anybody have a cold.”

While there’s currently a shortage of the one for infants, the one for adults is in stock and available for the public.

“We're hoping that there will be (a) sufficient vaccine for everybody who wants it throughout the season, but I think only time will tell,” he said.