RSV, Flu Uptick Among Riverside County Kids Prompts Advisory

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County Public Health Officer Geoffrey Leung on Thursday urged parents to take "the necessary precautions to protect their children" as cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in youngsters rise.

“It’s that time of year and we are seeing children in Riverside County, some younger than 2 years old, who are sick with colds and coughs and some with RSV. While RSV is a common respiratory virus, it can make young children quite ill. So, we are asking that parents do what they can to prevent kids from getting sick,” Leung said.

Leung recommends frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, keeping sick children home, and voluntary masking indoors in schools and in public places.

Masking of adults around very young children — particularly those born prematurely — may also help to reduce the risk of RSV transmission, according to Leung.

Additionally, Public Health recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an influenza
vaccination to protect against seasonal illness.

RSV typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can be particularly serious for infants and older adults. It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in U.S. children younger than 1 year of age, according to Public Health.

Symptoms of RSV can include shallow or difficulty breathing, cough, poor appetite, listlessness or
irritability, the county health agency reported.

Residents are advised to call their healthcare provider and seek immediate medical attention if a child or anyone is having difficulty breathing.

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about RSV, click here.

To learn more, visit Riverside University Health System Public Health’s Disease Control branch at
https://www.ruhealth.org/public-health/disease-control or call 951-358-5107.