Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Alternate name: RSV
Print page Send by email
Fact sheet - Health conditions directory
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory illness. RSV is often the cause of the ‘common cold’. RSV can affect people of all ages. Repeated RSV infection is common in children. Children under 3 years of age and older adults who have health problems involving the heart, lungs or immune system are at risk of serious illness and may need to be admitted to hospital. Babies, especially under 6 months of age, can develop chest infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. RSV is highly infectious. Outbreaks of acute respiratory illness in settings such as early childhood education and care services and residential care facilities can be from RSV infection.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
- Notification criteria for pathology laboratories (PDF, 55kB)
Pathology laboratories
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
- Institutional outbreak respiratory outbreak summary form (PDF, 402kB) – used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.
Resources for health professionals
Epidemiological data and reports
View communicable diseases data for notifiable conditions in Queensland.
