A GP has issued a stark warning about a lesser-known virus that could lead to hospitalisations, particularly as families gather for the festive season. Dr Ellie Cannon highlighted the potential for serious illnesses such as bronchiolitis in young babies and pneumonia in older adults.
This comes as Pfizer Ltd shared findings on Tuesday from an independent study by Ipsos, revealing low awareness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among UK residents. RSV is a common infection affecting the airways and lungs, with cases typically peaking during winter months.
Current surveillance figures indicate a rise in RSV cases across the UK this winter. The research team noted that many people may not have heard of RSV.
The survey, conducted independently by Ipsos between September 2 and 30, 2024, included 1,850 people aged over 16 across the UK. Of these, 75% were not very familiar or had not heard of RSV at all.
Awareness was even lower among respondents over 60, with 86% unfamiliar with RSV, despite this group being at risk of severe illness from the virus, reports Gloucestershire Live. Despite awareness of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a survey reveals that 39% of respondents don’t believe they’re at risk of contracting it in the next six months.
RSV can strike at any time, but winter sees a spike in cases. Unlike other viruses, RSV doesn’t grant long-lasting immunity, meaning reinfection is common.
GP Dr Ellie Cannon warned: “As we get deep into winter, and people embrace the seasonal cheer spending time with loved ones and going out with friends, respiratory viruses like RSV are likely to spread. While most people get better on their own, everyone should be aware that RSV can lead to more serious illness, such as bronchiolitis in young babies and pneumonia in older adults.
“With few treatment options available for RSV, hospital care is often limited to supportive options such as giving oxygen to help breathing and fluids to reduce dehydration. A surge in RSV admissions could increase pressure on an already strained NHS. It’s important we all do what we can to help protect the most vulnerable and preserve the NHS at this time of year.”
How RSV spreads
RSV, a virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, can be mitigated by simple measures such as regular hand washing, using disposable tissues and ensuring surfaces are clean. While it typically causes mild cold-like symptoms in most people, RSV can lead to more serious illnesses in older adults and young babies.
It’s a common cause of bronchiolitis in babies, a chest infection that can cause breathing problems and may require hospital treatment. In England, it is estimated that each year, in infants under six months of age, RSV leads to approximately 65,000 GP appointments and 13,000 hospitalisations.
For adults, the risk of severe disease related to RSV increases with age and can cause severe illness, such as pneumonia. Each year, in the UK, RSV infection causes illness in older adults (65+) that results in approximately 175,000 GP visits, 14,000 hospitalisations and 8,000 deaths.
Pfizer has kicked off its ‘Be RSV Aware’ campaign to increase public knowledge about the dangers of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and how to prevent it. Starting with an attention-grabbing installation that will move from London to Manchester in the week starting December 2, the exhibit consists of a striking sculpture made from around 27,000 ‘Get Well’ cards – the number of people hospitalised due to RSV annually.
Those passing by will receive ‘get well soon’ cards containing details on the risks associated with RSV, prevention methods, and protection for those at greater risk. Pfizer UK’s primary care medical director Dr Gillian Ellsbury commented: “There has been a big effort by Government and the NHS to raise awareness of RSV. However, our research shows that despite these efforts, awareness of RSV in the UK is still extremely low, particularly in groups most at risk of serious illness. We believe there is still work to be done on raising awareness of RSV.”
Further details can be found at www.BeRSVaware.co.uk. The Ipsos RSV Monitor, a survey among consumers using an online panel of adults aged 16+ across Europe, LATAM, APAC, MENA and 18+ in the US, aims for national representativeness in its sample collection.
Findings mentioned within this article were gathered between September 2 and 30, 2024, including around 1,850 UK consumers. All the data were collected online.