Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has a worldwide distribution and can cause serious lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI). RSV is most commonly considered a pathogen among infants and young children; however, it can cause serious LRTI throughout life, especially among those with compromised respiratory, cardiac, or immune systems and the elderly. In temperate climates, RSV infections occur primarily during annual outbreaks, which peak during winter months. In the United States, RSV activity is monitored by the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), a laboratory-based surveillance system. This report summarizes trends in RSV activity reported to NREVSS during July 2000-June 2001 and presents preliminary surveillance data from the weeks ending July 7 through December 8, 2001, indicating the onset of the 2001-02 RSV season. Health-care providers should consider RSV in the differential diagnosis of lower respiratory tract disease in persons of all ages, use isolation procedures to prevent nosocomial transmission, and consider use of immune globulin or monoclonal antibody prophylaxis in premature infants or infants and children with chronic lung disease.
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