"Susan Green developed a stubborn cough in December 2023. It has never gone away. Nearly two years after contracting respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, Green, now aged 72, still suffers from chest congestion and a phlegmy cough. Because she coughs so much when lying down, she has to elevate the head of her bed in order to breathe easier and get a good night's sleep."
"Most people contract RSV by their second birthday, with multiple reinfections throughout life. Although these bouts tend to be mild, with symptoms similar to the common cold, RSV can trigger severe disease in the very young, the very old and those who are immunocompromised. RSV caused up to 6.5 million medical visits, 350,000 hospitalizations and 23,000 deaths from October 1, 2024, to May 3, 2025, a period that includes the typical RSV season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
"Two to three of every 100 babies under six months old are hospitalized for RSV, making it the most common cause of hospitalization in infants in the U.S. Yet there is also good news about RSV. After decades of research and failed efforts, scientists have produced a bumper crop of game-changing RSV vaccines and immunizations to protect the most vulnerable people."
Susan Green developed a persistent cough in December 2023 that has lasted nearly two years, causing chest congestion, phlegmy coughing and sleep disruption that requires elevating her bed. The infection reduced her endurance and made exercise difficult, producing life-changing effects. Most people contract RSV by age two and experience multiple reinfections; symptoms are often mild, but RSV can cause severe disease in infants, older adults and immunocompromised people. From October 1, 2024 to May 3, 2025 RSV caused up to 6.5 million medical visits, 350,000 hospitalizations and 23,000 deaths in the U.S. New vaccines and immunizations now offer protection for the most vulnerable.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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