GENEVA — Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations globally, resulting in a severe burden of illness and death, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
A common respiratory virus, which typically presents with cold-like symptoms, can escalate rapidly in vulnerable populations, particularly infants, leading to life-threatening lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
A Devastating Global Impact
The WHO estimates that each year, RSV is responsible for over 3.6 million hospitalizations and approximately 100,000 deaths in children under five years of age worldwide.
The risk is most acute for the youngest: nearly half of all RSV-attributable deaths occur in infants younger than six months old.
A stark disparity exists in mortality, with approximately 97% of pediatric RSV deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries where access to immediate and supportive medical care is severely limited. Nearly all children are infected with RSV by the time they reach their second birthday, making it a nearly universal threat.
WHO Recommends New Immunization Strategies
In response to the virus’s high burden, the WHO has issued its first-ever global recommendations for new immunization products to protect young infants. The goal is to provide passive immunity—giving infants protective antibodies directly—during their most vulnerable months.
The WHO now recommends that all countries introduce at least one of two products:
- Maternal Vaccine: A vaccine administered to pregnant women in their third trimester. This allows the mother to produce protective antibodies that are then transferred directly to the baby before birth, offering protection for the first several months of life.
- Long-Acting Monoclonal Antibody (mAb): An antibody injection given directly to the infant at birth or shortly thereafter. This injection offers protection that can last for at least five months, ideally covering the baby’s entire first RSV season.
These new preventive measures are considered a significant milestone in global public health, offering a critical tool to dramatically reduce the number of hospitalizations and save countless infant lives worldwide.
