ALARM: RSV Is Getting Bad. I Don't Know Why The Media isn't Talking. RSV Hits Adults Too.

[hlthe2b]

2. You have a pretty good grasp, but while elderly can get it due to reductions in natural immunity

and immune function over time, RSV is a virus that nearly all older children and adults have been exposed to over time and become immune-- and natural immunity does protect most of us. The issue with the explosion of cases in the young is that they (an entire cohort of young children) did not become exposed as they typically would have during COVID and thus were all susceptible now. Because RSV can be deadly to the youngest among us (premies are generally treated with antivirals regularly to prevent early infection), this is highly alarming and yes, the fragile elderly among us can be at risk as well. And yes, the media should be talking about this as well.

So, I agree, masks are a really smart measure along with EARLY (NOW, FOLKS) flu vaccine, COVID bivalent booster) AND HANDWASHING. The latter is frequently underemphasized but both influenza and RSV are dramatically increased in transmission when good hand-washing precautions fall away. Thus, kids are the most exposed in this regard.

Sadly, we can also predict future rampant explosions in vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis and even measles in the future given so many young children missed their vaccine schedules and anti-vaxx attitudes fostered by COVID have so permeated beyond.