How long is RSV contagious? What you should know as respiratory illne…

As colder weather sets in across much of the country, many communities are experiencing a rise in respiratory illness, leading to an influx of patients at hospitals, doctors’ offices and other health care facilities.

“High” or “very high” levels of respiratory illness activity have been reported in 17 states, though not Illinois and Indiana, newly-released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.

According to the CDC, flu hospitalizations have spiked 200 percent over the last four weeks, and hospitalizations for respiratory syncytial virus and COVID have surged as well.

When it comes to RSV specifically, most people often experience mild symptoms and recover in a week or two. But depending on age and certain risk factors, serious complications are possible.

People infected with RSV are usually symptomatic within four to six days after getting infected and may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: