RSV

Federal health advisers have narrowly backed an experimental vaccine from Pfizer that could become the first shot to protect older adults against the respiratory illness known as RSV.

The illness sends tens of thousands of babies to the hospital each year. If approved, the new injection would be the first broadly available prevention tool.

Moderna said a late-stage trial found that its vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus was 84% effective in preventing at least two symptoms in adults ages 60 and older.

While COVID is still out there, it's the viruses that have long been circulating that sent so many kids to the hospital this cold and flu season. Things like RSV and the flu. So what made this year so unusual?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday reported that visits to doctors' offices for flu-like illnesses dropped for the sixth week — despite earlier worries about a flu surge.

New U.S. government data suggests holiday gatherings didn’t spark surges in respiratory diseases.

This year has been extreme when it comes to the spread of viruses like the flu, RSV and COVID. These illnesses are hitting kids especially hard. Among the many symptoms of a viral infection is a rash.

A high number of flu cases are normal for this time of year in South Texas, but lately, doctors in San Antonio are treating and seeing more patients with RSV or COVID-19.

RSV and the flu appear to be receding in the U.S., but COVID is on the rise, new data suggest, driven by holiday gatherings and an even more transmissible omicron subvariant that has become dominant.

On Friday, we looked at The Free Lance–Star photographers’ best images of 2022. Today, we highlight staff selections of the top 10 stories of the year for the Fredericksburg region.

From mental wellness to a multitude of illnesses, the past year in health and medicine has been a roller-coaster ride.

Millions of Americans are struggling to get their hands on much-needed medication.

Pediatricians share their advice for parents as kids face flu, RSV and more.

Pharmacy chains including CVS, Walgreens and Kroger are limiting the sale of popular children’s medicines as pharmacies struggle to keep up with the tripledemic. The flu, COVID-19 and RSV has lead to a 65 percent increase in pediatric medication in just one month. NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez reports for TODAY.

Pediatric hospital beds are often empty and yield smaller reimbursements than adult care, making them targets for cost-cutting by hospitals.

Major cities across the U.S. are looking to have residents return to wearing face coverings to combat not just COVID-19, but also the flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

Health officials say less than 20% of residents in Minnesota are current on COVID-19 shots. Health officials warn residents to get their shots now, so immunity builds before Christmas.

As respiratory illnesses continue to surge, some pharmacies are running out of liquid versions of medicine that kids commonly use when sick.

Heading into the holidays, cases of respiratory illness are surging, and authorities are urging people to take preventive measures.

Two moms spoke to "Good Morning America" about how the tripledemic of RSV, flu, and COVID has impacted their families.

Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged on Friday that there is a "fatigue" regarding COVID-19 mandates as respiratory viruses continue to infect across the country.

The New York City Department of Heath is urging residents to wear a high quality mask amid “high levels of COVID-19, flu and RSV," according to a press release.

The onslaught of viruses, a tripledemic of covid, RSV and the flu, has sent parents into a spiral.

Doctors say all three of the now-prevalent viral infections sweeping the country could be slowed by mask-wearing.

Pfizer said the FDA has accepted its RSV vaccine candidate for review under an expedited process that reduces the approval process by four months.

Last year, health experts warned parents about the potential for a twindemic – cases of COVID and the flu rising during the winter. Now, the threat of a tripledemic remains, which is three viruses circulating, that can make kids seriously sick.

The latest CDC data from November shows this year, the rate of hospitalization for seniors with RSV is already 10 times higher than average.

Intensive care doctors in Germany are warning that hospital pediatric units in the country are stretched to breaking point in part due to rising cases of respiratory infections among infants

San Antonio-area doctors answer questions about RSV, including how it's transmitted, who is most vulnerable and what is causing a spike in San Antonio-area cases.

COVID, flu and RSV cases had already been on the rise, but the holidays are expected to cause even higher numbers.

Health care professionals are bracing for a surge in flu, RSV and COVID-19 cases. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explains why it's important to know what you are sick with.

Pediatric hospital beds remain near capacity, data shows.

The following is a full transcript of an interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, that aired on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, on "Face the Nation."

The easy explanation for a rise in non-Covid viruses is that pandemic mitigation measures let our immune systems backslide. But there’s more going on.

Medical officials have asked families to consider taking their children to a pediatrician or primary care provider before visiting the emergency room in nonemergency situations to limit wait times.

A Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard, updated Monday afternoon, shows just 42 available, staffed pediatric ICU beds across the state. In San Antonio’s region, which covers nearly 2.9 million people and stretches to the Mexican border, there were only nine available.

But with the triple threat of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus — known as RSV — and influenza driving up infections this season, there are some suggested precautions people can take. “People come inside and congregate indoors.”Bratzler noted there has been a “fairly substantial” increase in cases of upper respiratory diseases. In Hidalgo County, three residents died due to COVID-related complications, the county reported this week. Hidalgo County also reported 342 new cases this week, including 121 confirmed and 225 probable cases. County officials, though, reported 208 new cases this week which included 71 confirmed cases and 137 probable cases.

As Americans head into the holiday season, a rapidly intensifying flu season is straining hospitals already overburdened with patients sick from other respiratory infections.More than half the states [San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

Infectious disease experts shared input on RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) — and whether or not adults and children can be infected with it more than once as the county experiences a surge of illness.

For the past few years, the flu was held in check but it’s making a comeback, according to a pediatrician with the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Infants 6 months and younger are getting hospitalized with RSV at 11 times the rate observed before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to CDC data.

The child was under the age of 5, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Cases of RSV among kids are driving up hospitalizations at two children's hospitals in Boston, leading to capacity issues and delaying non-emergency procedures for some patients.

A study published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine found that 1.8% of healthy infants are hospitalized with RSV before their first birthday.

A large study has begun to find out whether nirsevimab should be offered to all babies in the UK.

The head of the World Health Organization says there's "cause for optimism."

The City of Laredo Health Department released an advisory for the respiratory syncytial virus and suggested stricter guidelines for students than those recommended by the CDC.

With viruses like Covid-19, flu and RSV circulating, experts fear that a 'tripledemic' may be on the way. These are the best masks and masking methods to use.

Amy Schumer and her husband Chris Fischer had to bring their 3-year-old son Gene to the hospital for RSV while she was preparing to host "Saturday Night Live.'

There has been a spike in RSV cases this fall, which health experts attribute to the fact that children who had been social distancing during the pandemic, and were shielded from it, are now being exposed in large numbers.

Schumer shared that her 3-year-old son Gene was taken to the emergency room.

Over the past couple of weeks, Methodist Children’s Hospital has seen an increase in ER visits directly related to respiratory illnesses like the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

The early prevalence of respiratory illnesses are placing a strain on healthcare systems, according to the CDC.

The U.S. flu season is off to an unusually fast start.

A Michigan boy has died from RSV complications as hospitals around the country continue to see an alarming rise in pediatric respiratory syncytial virus cases.

Some 330,000 health care professionals exited the field in 2021, creating a worker shortage amid a rise in viral illnesses.

Why are so many children sick right now? Dr. Mandie Tibball Svatek, University Health pediatric hospitalist and UT Health SA associate professor answers some of parents' most asked questions.

RSV, a respiratory illness that can be severe in infants because their lungs aren't strong enough, is overwhelming hospitals in parts of the U.S.

A growing shortage of amoxicillin reflects the spike in children's respiratory illness — but you can most likely still get your prescription filled.

Why are so many children sick right now? Dr. Mandie Tibball Svatek, University Health pediatric hospitalist and UT Health SA associate professor answers some of parents' most asked questions.

Doctors say they are seeing an unprecedented number of cases. How concerned should parents be? Why are young children so vulnerable? What's causing this year's outbreak? We offer some answers.

The preliminary results buoy hope that after decades of failure and frustration, vaccines against RSV may finally be getting close.

Pfizer said it will submit an application to the Food and Drug Administration for the RSV vaccine's approval by the end of 2022.

Across the country, hospitals are filling up with children fighting respiratory illnesses.

Flu season this year is unlike any we’ve seen before.

Pediatricians with UT Health San Antonio say they have seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in children as well as a rise in other diseases.

RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but can be serious for infants and the elderly.

The recent emergence of a virus that typically sickens children in colder months has baffled U.S. pediatricians and put many infants in the hospital with troublesome coughs and breathing trouble.