Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually presents itself as a cold with symptoms like runny nose, coughing, sneezing, or fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, for babies, some young children, older adults, and those with a weakened immune system, RSV can cause severe illness. Therefore, the CDC recommends that adults 60 years and older, pregnant people, infants, and certain young children receive one of four approved RSV vaccines. However, as of the week ending Dec. 14, 2024, only 32.8 percent of adults aged 60-75 received the vaccine, while 34.2 percent of pregnant persons received it. And now the CDC is reporting seven states with "very high" RSV levels and 14 with "high" levels.
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These seven states have "very high" RSV levels:
According to the CDC's wastewater viral activity data updated on Dec. 19, seven states have "very high" RSV levels:
- Arizona*
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Washington, D.C.
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Missouri*
Though Louisiana isn't independently reporting its RSV data, it leads the country in influenza cases and, coupled with RSV, this is straining some hospitals.
"We’re chock full,” said Mark Kline, MD, an infectious disease expert and physician-in-chief at Children's Hospital New Orleans, in a recent interview with Nola.com. "The wastewater data is off the charts for RSV, and influenza is up there, too."
Nola.com reports that, at this time last year, about 5 percent of patients at Children's Hospital were testing positive for RSV. Now, that number has ballooned to 20 percent. "Children under the age of one make up the majority of RSV emergency visits, followed by children ages two to four," they note.
Arkansas is seeing a 22 percent positivity rate at children's hospitals in the state, reported Little Rock ABC affiliate KATV, based on data from the Arkansas Department of Health.
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These 14 states have "high" RSV levels:
The CDC reports that these states have "high" RSV levels as of Dec. 19:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi*
- New Mexico
- Pennsylvania*
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia*
How to protect yourself from RSV:
According to Mayo Clinic, seek immediate medical attention if your child, or anyone at risk from RSV complications, "has difficulty breathing, a high fever, or a blue color to the skin, particularly on the lips and in the nail beds."
In addition to vaccination, to protect yourself and others from RSV, they recommend washing your hands often, disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly, putting dirty tissues in the trash right away, not sharing drinking glasses, and washing children's toys regularly.
