Respiratory Syncytial Virus News and Research

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$Study shows wearable health sensors only prompt a fraction of at-home tests$

Study shows wearable health sensors only prompt a fraction of at-home tests

When seemingly healthy people receive an alert from a wearable sensor telling them they might have a respiratory virus-;based on small changes in their unique heartrate, sleep and activity patterns-;what do they do? According to a new study by Scripps Research scientists carried out at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, only a quarter of people follow up such an alert with an at-home viral test.

24 Jul 2024

New method can rapidly determine virus infectivity

A new method that can rapidly determine whether a virus is infectious or non-infectious could revolutionize the response to future pandemics.

23 Jul 2024

Discovery of key RSV immune evasion mechanism offers hope for new treatments

Irish scientists led by a group from Trinity College Dublin have discovered how the dangerous Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) defuses our immune response and, in doing so, they have pinpointed an exciting new target for drug developers.

19 Jul 2024

COVID-19 lockdown reduced childhood wheezing and bronchiolitis cases

Bronchiolitis cases dropped significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown, leading to fewer wheezing episodes and reduced respiratory medication use in children.

10 Jul 2024

Real-world data confirms safety of RSV vaccination in late pregnancy

Vaccinating mothers against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during late pregnancy to protect their newborns is not associated with an increased risk of preterm birth or other poor outcomes, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.

8 Jul 2024

Pediatric RSV infections surged 2017-23, straining U.S. hospitals

A recent study found a significant post-pandemic surge in pediatric RSV infections, with increased hospitalizations and respiratory support needs, especially among older children.

18 Jun 2024

100-year-old BCG vaccine protects individuals with type 1 diabetes from infectious diseases

In new research, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) show that the 100-year-old Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, originally developed to prevent tuberculosis, protects individuals with type 1 diabetes from severe COVID-19 disease and other infectious diseases.

22 May 2024

New tool may help identify newborns at highest risk for developing RSV lower respiratory tract infection

On the heels of a shortage of nirsevimab for infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) prevention, a new tool may help identify newborns at highest risk for developing serious RSV LRTI, according to research published at the ATS 2024 International Conference.

21 May 2024

Personalized risk prediction tool helps prioritize high-risk infants for RSV prevention

A new tool to identify infants most at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness could aid pediatricians in prioritizing children under 1 to receive a preventive medication before RSV season (October-April), according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) research published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases and to be presented at the American Thoracic Society 2024 International Conference.

25 Apr 2024

154 million lives saved: Landmark study highlights power of vaccination

A major landmark study to be published by The Lancet reveals that global immunization efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives – or the equivalent of 6 lives every minute of every year – over the past 50 years.

25 Apr 2024

Breast milk's secret weapon against RSV revealed in new study

Researchers explored how human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), suggesting that these components in breast milk may prevent or reduce the severity of RSV infections through multiple mechanisms including gut microbiome modulation and direct antiviral actions.

15 Apr 2024

More patients are losing their doctors — and trust in the primary care system

First, her favorite doctor in Providence, Rhode Island, retired. Then her other doctor at a health center a few miles away left the practice.

2 Apr 2024

A mom’s $97,000 question: How was her baby’s air-ambulance ride not medically necessary?

Sara England was putting together Ghostbusters costumes for Halloween when she noticed her baby wasn't doing well.

25 Mar 2024

Measles outbreak in Illinois underscores critical need for vaccination

Study reports a measles outbreak among five unvaccinated children in Illinois, highlighting the disease's high transmissibility even among those not in direct contact, underscoring the critical importance of vaccination.

17 Mar 2024

Viral infections contribute to more cases of intussusception in kids

Viral infections trigger more cases of intussusception, the common cause of bowel blockages in young children, than previously thought, according to a new study.

14 Mar 2024

Nirsevimab shows 90% success in shielding infants from RSV hospitalizations

Study demonstrated a 90% effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing RSV-associated hospitalizations in infants, with a significant finding being the timely vaccination's role in offering protection.

10 Mar 2024

COVID-19 booster enhances virus neutralizing antibodies in breast milk, new study reveals

The potential of COVID-19 booster vaccine products (antibodies) passed from mother to offspring through breastmilk.

7 Mar 2024

Only 9% of older Americans vaccinated against RSV, study finds

A new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that only 9 percent of older Americans had been vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prior to this fall and winter, despite the threat of increased rates of hospitalization and deaths nationwide from the virus.

1 Mar 2024

Virginia Tech receives grant for improving rural wastewater pathogen detection

Testing wastewater to assess the spread of the COVID-19 virus became common and well-publicized during the pandemic, but it has been focused mostly on urban areas.

16 Feb 2024

Drug repurposing study finds lonafarnib effective against RSV

A study in Nature Communications identifies lonafarnib from the ReFRAME drug-repurposing library as a potent inhibitor of the RSV fusion protein, showing promise in reducing RSV infection in vitro and in vivo.

11 Feb 2024