US urges action to reduce burden of RSV

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has issued a Call to Action urging stronger public health focus and increased awareness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the United States. The report, Call to Action: Reducing the Burden of

RSV across the Lifespan, addresses the underappreciated impact of RSV and outlines key strategic priorities to drive progress in RSV surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. RSV is a common respiratory illness that can pose a serious public health threat for all age groups. While RSV is usually associated with mild, cold-like symptoms, it can be serious and can lead to severe illness, even in otherwise healthy people. The NFID Call to Action highlights the understated burden of RSV across the lifespan and includes strategies to address gaps in diagnostic testing and surveillance, existing health disparities, lack of currently available treatment and prevention options, and the potential impact of new interventions on the horizon after decades of limited innovation.