What is RSV?

● Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.

● It’s so common that most children have been infected with the virus by age 2, but it can also infect older children and adults.

● Symptoms are usually mild and typically mimic a common cold but they cause a severe infection in babies — especially premature infants — and the elderly or those with weak immune systems.

How to prevent the spread of RSV and other viruses:

● Keep children at home when they are unwell; they should not attend daycare centres, kindergarten or school

● Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue

● Regularly wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry them thoroughly

● People with underlying medical conditions, who are at increased risk of complications, are strongly encouraged to avoid contact with sick people and have good handwashing practices