RSV Threat: Experts Urge Prevention For Infants And Seniors As New Year Begins

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- As Malaysian families welcome the new year with resolutions focused on healthier living and closer family ties, health experts are reminding households not to overlook protection against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common but potentially dangerous respiratory infection affecting both infants and older adults.

Often mistaken for a cold or seasonal flu, RSV is one of the leading causes of severe respiratory illness in infants worldwide, with nearly all children infected by the age of two and newborns facing the highest risk of serious complications.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Jenny Tan Yen Ling said RSV causes an estimated 3.6 million hospitalisations and about 100,000 deaths each year globally among children under five, with almost all fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries where access to hospital care may be limited.

“RSV is one of the most common causes of severe lung infections in young children, yet many families are not aware of how serious it can be. Early awareness and prevention can save lives,” she said in a statement.

Beyond infants, she said RSV also poses a serious risk to older adults, especially those aged 65 and above or living with diabetes, heart disease, asthma or chronic lung conditions.

Dr Tan said for babies under six months, RSV can cause rapid and difficult breathing, feeding problems and disrupted sleep that may require oxygen support or intensive care, while in older adults, symptoms may begin mildly but worsen quickly.

For instance, in many Malaysian households where grandparents help care for grandchildren and families spend long hours together indoors, RSV can spread easily through coughs, sneezes and close contact.

“When it comes to RSV, prevention is our strongest protection. Once severe illness develops, treatment options are limited,” she said, adding that currently there is no specific medicine to cure RSV, with treatment limited to supportive care such as oxygen, fluids and monitoring.

Following this, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Joyce Lee Chai Yuit said one key preventive measure is maternal RSV immunisation, where vaccination during pregnancy allows protective antibodies to pass through the placenta to the unborn baby during the most vulnerable months of life.

“Maternal immunisation allows protection to start even before the baby is born,” she said.

Studies show that maternal RSV vaccination can reduce severe RSV illness by up to 82 per cent in the first three months after birth, with protection continuing through the first six months.

In 2025, the World Health Organisation recommended maternal RSV vaccination for global use, encouraging countries to strengthen protection for mothers and babies.

RSV also places a heavy burden on older adults worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of seniors hospitalised each year, and vaccines are now available in some countries for adults aged 60 and above.

Therefore, Dr Lee said, for Malaysians caring for both children and ageing parents, adult children often play a key role in encouraging medical consultations and discussions about vaccination.

Beyond vaccination, she said simple daily habits such as staying away from newborns when unwell, washing hands regularly, improving ventilation and wearing masks when coughing can help reduce RSV transmission.

“RSV prevention works best when families act together. Protecting one vulnerable person helps protect the whole household,” she added.

As 2026 began, health experts say that while RSV may not be widely discussed, its impact can be deeply felt by families facing hospitalisation and recovery, making RSV prevention a practical addition to the family health checklist to help protect both a baby’s first breaths and a parent’s next.

-- BERNAMA

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