Health experts shed light on how vulnerable populations are affected by the contagious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and discussed steps towards its prevention.

Dr. Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease physician at Rophi Clinic in Singapore, said RSV can affect anyone, but most people typically get it initially during infancy or as toddlers.

RSV typically causes mild illness, but it is contagious and can lead to severe illnesses affecting the lungs, particularly for infants younger than six months and in older adults, Leong continued.

According to the health expert, RSV often begins with cold-like symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and fever.

In the Philippines, cases of RSV tend to rise between May and November and is considered the most common respiratory virus in hospitalized children under two years old.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), through its Philippine National Influenza Center, leads the RSV Surveillance Pilot Project in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Launched in 2021, the RITM-led initiative has established hospital sentinel sites across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to monitor RSV activity and understand its seasonality.

These sites collect and analyze data to evaluate the burden of RSV among hospitalized children, helping inform public health strategies and vaccination efforts.

The Philippines is also recognized as a key contributor to the WHO Global RSV Surveillance, becoming the first among six low- and lower-middle-income countries to produce disease burden estimates for RSV.

These efforts are crucial in shaping preventive strategies, including vaccination and maternal immunization, which offer significant protection against severe RSV complications.

Impact of RSV on vulnerable populations

Anyone is susceptible to RSV, but doctors emphasize thats it can be more serious for adults over 60 – including those with underlying medical conditions – and babies under six months of age, according to Leong.

Additional risk factors include chronic health problems like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or congestive heart failure for older adults.

For children, conditions such as neuromuscular disorders, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, or weakened immune systems can increase additional risk. As described in a review of scientific literature, majority of infants with severe RSV were born at term and previously healthy.

Leong saidthe infection can lead to lower respiratory infections.

“These infections are particularly challenging for individuals over 65 due to their weakened immune systems. Moreover, those with pre-existing medical conditions, especially heart or lung-related issues, are more vulnerable to complications from RSV,” he explained.

RSV also poses significant risks to residents of long-term care facilities and those with compromised immune systems, including transplant recipients and individuals on steroid therapy or other immunosuppressants. In the most severe cases, RSV may even be fatal, Leong added.

Reducing RSV risks

RSV spreads mainly through droplets from an infected person’s coughs and sneezes, which can enter through the eyes, nose or mouth. It can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces.

To prevent the spread of RSV, Leong emphasized the importance of practicing good hand hygiene, wearing masks and maintaining a safe distance of two meters or more from unwell people. He also advised against sharing personal items like cups, as the virus can survive on surfaces for several hours.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there is currently no effective treatment for RSV, so prevention through vaccination is key to minimizing complications.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, Head of Infectious Disease at San Lazaro Hospital, said in a presentation held last January before healthcare professionals that “RSV is a viral infection that can be deadly, and since it commands a great rate of morbidity and mortality, there is no other available treatment than prevention through vaccination."

"Vaccine providers have been supporting the local health sector in addressing these challenges by raising awareness on the illness and improving vaccine availability," Solante added.

"This enhances the landscape of RSV prevention to a better and more achievable outcome and increased patient survival."

Adopting a preventive approach

According to Leong, vaccination works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies, as the RSV vaccine contains a. protein from the virus that prompts this response.

When administered, it triggers the immune system to respond, creating protection that helps stave off severe infection.

Leong emphasized the importance of adopting a prevention mindset, aligning with the goal of protecting loved ones from severe RSV complications.

“RSV is a life-threatening infection that can cause significant despair for families,” he said.

“Doctors may be limited in their treatment options, making prevention through vaccination one of the most effective methods to safeguard health," he added, noting that maternal immunization is a well-established and crucial public health strategy.

Leong further explained that administering vaccines during pregnancy as mothers can pass on antibodies to their unborn children through the placenta, offering protection during the early vulnerable period after birth.

He advised the public to consult with their physicians about the risks of RSV and how to protect vulnerable people, including the option of RSV vaccination.