Infectious disease experts warn of viral season, new tools to combat RSV introduced

Wash. — Infectious disease doctors are sounding the alarm on the upcoming viral season. They tell us with last year's surge in RSV, there are now new tools to keep you and your family safe from the virus.

While doctors say they anticipate COVID-19, Flu, and RSV cases to be on the rise, they tell us it's still unclear which illness spike we'll see first.

Dr. Helen Chu, Medicine & Infectious Diseases at UW Medicine, says. "We've already had a COVID surge in Washington state and nationally in August, which is earlier than we would normally expect for respiratory viruses. We're starting to see RSV numbers come in from Seattle Children's Hospital. We haven't seen any flu yet. But we expect that we'll see all three viruses circulating. It's unclear which one is going to peak first, but we expect all three of them to peak."

Data from the CDC shows on average. Around 58,000 to 80,000 children under the age of five each year are hospitalized from respiratory syncytial virus. Doctors say a majority of those seen are infants.

Doctors tell us a newly approved vaccine treatment will help protect the youngest of those affected.

Dr. Chu, says. "We know that RSV causes pretty significant disease in young infants, particularly their first RSV season. And so, there are two products: the first is a monoclonal antibody to be given at birth, and that is recommended for every single baby at birth, and for high-risk babies also in their second year of life. And that will be given either during the hospitalization or at a pediatrician visit before the RSV season."

We're told another treatment still under review is a maternal vaccine, given between 32-and-36 weeks gestation.

The other new product, which is still under review but will likely be recommended for use, is going to be the maternal vaccine. And so, this is going to be given during pregnancy between 32- and 36 weeks gestation and also before the RSV season, or during the RSV season. The idea is that that vaccine will protect the mom, transfer the antibody, and then protect the baby. Says, Dr. Chu.