White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha says that the US may face a “tripledemic” this winter of Covid-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV.
Covid-19 and flu are diseases that everyone knows about. But what is RSV and why does Dr. Jha think it is so important right now?
First, it’s worth noting that “twindemic” and “tripledemic” are not technical terms that experts use, but recent media coinages. Twindemic and tripledemic have a nice attention-grabbing ring, but really all we’re saying is that seasonal respiratory infections rise and fall together, typically peaking in the winter and waning in the summer. This winter, it is very likely that Covid-19, flu, and RSV will all rise together.
So, what is RSV?
- RSV is a human virus, but unrelated to most other human viruses. It is an orthopneumovirus, most closely related to viruses that cause respiratory infections in rodents and cows.
- RSV is common and usually mild. RSV infections usually cause cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, a decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing.
- RSV can cause severe disease, however. According to the CDC, it is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than one year of age in the United States. Each year, RSV results in millions of outpatient visits for young children, tens of thousands of hospitalizations among children and adults aged 65 and older, and thousands of deaths.
- RSV is highly contagious – about twice as contagious as influenza, according to a recent study. To prevent transmission, the CDC recommends covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue rather than your hands, washing your hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, avoiding close contact with others (e.g. kissing, shaking hands, and sharing utensils), and cleaning high touch surfaces like doorknobs.
Why it matters now
RSV is on the rise. Recently, the CDC noted an increase in RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in several parts of the U.S.
The CDC monitors RSV through the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RSV-NET), among other systems. Anyone can access the latest data here. The following graph shows that RSV-associated hospitalizations in October 2022 were about twice what they were in 2021 and far higher than in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
According to the New York Times, there are no vaccines for RSV, although a few possibilities are in clinical trials, and Pfizer is developing an antiviral drug. For very young children, a monoclonal antibody called Palivizumab may be used prophylactically to prevent severe disease, but this drug is only recommended for very young children at high risk for severe disease.
What can you do to pretect yourself against RSV?
As White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha said, “we are not powerless against” RSV. As we move indoors during the fall and winter, we can protect against RSV using the same simple measures we use against influenza and Covid-19 – frequent hand washing and staying home when feeling ill. Most people should also get a flu shot and updated Covid-19 booster. Protection from co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza can help you avoid the worst outcomes should you contract RSV. And if you get sick this winter, get tested.
The takeaway? There is no need to over worry. Be proactive and follow public health guidance to avoid RSV and stay healthy this winter.
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