NEW YORK (AP) — RSV infections are rising sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states.
To help counter the surge, federal officials on Thursday announced they were releasing 77,000 doses of a new RSV shot for newborns that have been in short supply.
In Virginia, 20 kids are currently hospitalized with RSV at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health, with about half of them in the intensive care unit, said spokesperson Shira Pollard.
“Our emergency departments, our urgent cares are extremely busy.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, cough and fever.
Persons:
Meredith McMorrow, Shira Pollard, Jim Fortenberry, ” Fortenberry, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson
Organizations:
Centers for Disease Control, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, VCU Health, Children’s Healthcare, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP
Locations:
Georgia , Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Atlanta, Children’s