Alberta Health Services
Health Information
RSV is a common infection that affects the airways and lungs. It is a type of respiratory illness. It is usually mild, but it can be more serious in young children, older adults, and people with certain health problems. You can get it more than once in your life.
RSV season tends to start in late fall and last until spring.
RSV mostly affects babies, young children, and older adults. But you can get RSV at any age.
As you get older, you have a higher risk of getting very sick or needing care in the hospital because of RSV. You are at higher risk if:
Babies who are born too soon or have certain health conditions, such as lung problems or a weak immune system, are also at high risk of getting very sick or needing care in the hospital because of RSV.
RSV can spread in the following ways:
RSV can live on surfaces for several hours. It can live on unclean hands for 30 minutes or more. You can spread RSV before symptoms start.
RSV symptoms are usually mild cold-like symptoms that get better in 1 to 2 weeks. They include:
If RSV gets worse, symptoms may include:
In some cases, RSV can lead to a lung infection (pneumonia) or make other health problems worse.
Learn what to do and how to care for yourself if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness.
Most people can treat RSV at home. Home treatments include resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking medicine to lower your fever. Learn more about how to care for yourself at home.
Some people with RSV, especially older adults and babies, may need care in the hospital if they are having trouble breathing or are dehydrated.
There is a vaccine to protect against RSV for people age 60 years and older. You can get the RSV vaccine free if:
You need 1 dose of RSV vaccine. At this time, more than 1 dose is not recommended.
Learn more about the RSV vaccine.
There is no RSV vaccine for babies, but there is a medicine for babies who are at high risk of getting very sick from RSV. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
To stop RSV from spreading: