Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): Prevention and risks

How RSV spreads

RSV is very contagious. It can spread from one person to another by:

being in close contact with an infected individual and their respiratory particles enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth
touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands

Preventing RSV

Use personal protective measures to help reduce your risk of getting or spreading RSV:

Stay at home and limit contact with others when you're sick to avoid spreading the illness.
Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, kissing and sharing utensils, with people who have cold-like symptoms.
Properly wear a well-fitting respirator or mask, as this helps protect those around you from getting sick.
- It's especially important to wear a mask if you're sick and need to be around other people or must enter a public place.
- Children under the age of 2 should not wear masks.
- Children between the ages of 2 and 5 may be able to wear a mask with supervision if they can:
  - tolerate it
  - put the mask on and take it off themselves
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow (not your hand).
- Throw away any used tissues into a trash bin, and clean your hands immediately afterwards.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands.
Improve indoor ventilation when possible, such as opening windows or doors.
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs, toys or furniture.

If you have cold-like symptoms, you should:

stay home if possible
avoid coming into contact with people who are at a high risk of severe RSV infection

Learn more about:

Using medication

There are some products that have been shown to prevent RSV disease. For infants, there are 2 approved products (called monoclonal antibodies) used to prevent RSV. Neither product can be used to treat infants who already have RSV disease.

There's now an approved vaccine that can be given during pregnancy to prevent RSV disease in infants. In addition, 2 vaccines to prevent RSV disease for those 60 years of age and older are approved in Canada. The availability of these products can vary depending on where you live. Ask your health care provider about the best option for you and your family.

Risks of getting RSV

RSV is a seasonal viral infection that circulates from the fall to spring months. In healthy children and adults, RSV symptoms are similar to those of the common cold.

Although most children have had an RSV infection by the time they are 2 years old, repeat infections can occur at any age. Repeat infections of RSV are often less severe.

Who is most at risk of severe RSV infection

Some populations are at a higher risk of severe RSV infections, such as:

infants
- especially premature infants or infants under 6 months of age
children with chronic lung disease
children with heart disease present from birth (congenital heart disease)
children or adults with weakened immune systems
children with neuromuscular disorders
adults with heart or lung disease
older adults

Recommendations for travellers

RSV is common around the world.

To prevent getting an RSV infection when travelling, practise regular hand hygiene, such as washing your hands or using hand sanitizer. You should also cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow instead of your hands. Wearing a respirator or mask is another effective measure that helps provide protection against respiratory infectious diseases.

For example, wear a mask in settings that bring together a large number of people. This includes those who have travelled from different areas, like airports or train stations. These settings have an increased risk of disease transmission.

If you're planning to travel, consult:

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Date modified:: 2024-05-17

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