HHS HealthBeat (January 12, 2009)

Now and later

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Tishia Humes with HHS HealthBeat.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV – usually causes mild cold-like symptoms that go away on their own.  But RSV can cause more serious conditions like pneumonia and bronchiolitis, especially in young children and older adults. People usually get RSV in the fall, winter, or early spring.

Epidemiologist Cathy Panozzo of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says RSV is very contagious:

[Cathy Panozzo speaks] “You can get the virus on your hands by touching an object that has live virus on it. If you then rub your eyes or nose, you can get the virus in your body and become infected.”

You can also get RSV if you breathe the air where an infected person has coughed or sneezed the virus.

To reduce your risk of getting RSV – wash your hands a lot, and keep areas around you clean.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Tishia Humes.

Last revised: January, 27 2009