The respiratory virus that can provoke intense illness in toddlers and adults older than 65 is spreading at an alarming pace in the Midwest and South.
It’s the second time this summer when cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are reaching concerning levels in areas of the United States.
Though the illness is very common and normally provokes bronchiolitis and pneumonia in kids younger than one-year-old, it normally spreads extensively during the winter, not during the summer, when the weather is hot.
Six states – Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Iowa had their health departments report over 100 cases, as per data from the CDC, which is significantly more than the usual infection rate during summer.
Texas registered the most intense rise in cases, with more than a thousand new cases over the past five weeks.
The CDC issued a warning back in June that there is a seasonally unusual spread of RSV, manifesting especially in the southern states.
“Due to this increased activity, CDC encourages broader testing for RSV among patients presenting with acute respiratory illness who test negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,” reads the CDC health advisory.
The CDC also asked healthcare workers to remain at home in case they feel sick, even if they test negative for COVID-19.
For the majority of children, RSV is just a minor cold that can be easily treated at home. However, infants and adults over 65 or those with chronic illnesses should be kept under close control to look for more severe problems like troubles in breathing or eating.
Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatrician specializing in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Child Health Advocacy, said in an interview with PEOPLE:
“The concern comes when the child’s oxygen level drops or they are breathing too hard to eat or drink normally. But the good news for parents is that the concerning symptoms are not subtle. If your child cannot eat or drink normally or is having trouble breathing, they need to be evaluated by a medical professional.”
