RSV: Prevention starts with awareness

The cooler temperatures the country has been experiencing in recent months are a welcome relief from the usual sweltering heat of the dry season. Yet this seasonal respite carries a hidden health risk. Lower temperatures often coincide with a rise in influenza-like illness (ILI), including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a highly contagious respiratory infection. It imposes a heavy socioeconomic burden through healthcare costs, productivity losses, and added strain on an already stretched health system.

RSV causes flu-like symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, runny nose and congestion, fever, sore throat, headache, and fatigue. In more severe cases, wheezing and difficulty breathing may develop. The virus spreads easily through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for RSV, and mild infections are managed through supportive care, including hydration and over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and nasal congestion. Serious cases, particularly among infants and older adults, often require hospitalization.

Globally, RSV is one of the most common causes of acute lower respiratory infection in children and a major cause of severe respiratory disease among older persons. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly all children are infected with RSV by their second birthday. Each year, RSV accounts for more than 3.6 million hospitalizations and approximately 100,000 deaths among children under five years old. Alarmingly, 97% of RSV-related deaths in children occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to timely and adequate supportive care remains limited.

RSV infection in early life can also have lasting consequences. The WHO warns that lower respiratory tract infection due to RSV may lead to repeated hospitalizations during infancy, recurrent wheezing or asthma, and impaired lung health later in life. Among older adults, RSV can worsen chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart failure, often resulting in serious complications.

Local surveillance data reinforce the urgency of the problem. Findings from the RSV Surveillance Pilot Project of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) from May 2022 to April 2024 show that RSV transmission in the Philippines occurs year-round, with cases peaking from May to December. RSV accounted for a higher disease burden than influenza and SARS-CoV-2 among children aged two years and below, with infants under six months facing the highest risk of severe infection. Based on data from Jan. 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025, the country’s annual RSV positivity rate stood at 20%, reaching as high as 66.7% during peak season.

RSV positivity rate refers to the proportion of tested individuals who receive a positive result. A higher positivity rate indicates wider virus circulation in the community. Tracking this measure is an important public health tool. It helps anticipate healthcare demand, informs hospital preparedness, and guides preventive strategies such as vaccination campaigns and public advisories.

Launched in 2021 and led by the Philippine National Influenza Center, the RSV Surveillance Pilot Project aims to integrate RSV monitoring into the country’s broader National Respiratory Surveillance System. This initiative provides evidence to support timely public health action and strengthen preparedness.

In the absence of a definitive treatment, prevention remains our most effective defense. Basic measures still matter: staying home when sick, wearing a mask in public spaces, covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals, practicing frequent handwashing, and regularly disinfecting commonly touched surfaces.

Immunization is another vital pillar of RSV prevention. Maternal immunization is recommended as an effective way to protect infants, with health experts advising a single dose of RSV vaccine for pregnant women from 28 weeks of gestation, ideally administered at least two weeks before delivery to allow optimal antibody transfer to the newborn. For older adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends RSV vaccination for everyone aged 75 and above, as well as for adults aged 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe disease, including those with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions, diabetes, or other underlying illnesses. Speak with your doctor for a more detailed discussion.

Raising awareness about RSV is a shared responsibility. By prioritizing prevention through everyday protective measures and embracing the life-saving potential of vaccination, we can reduce the toll of a highly contagious virus that continues to affect families, communities, and healthcare systems. Protecting lives begins with knowledge, vigilance, and trust in science.