Cases of respiratory syncytial virus have been rising slowly in the U.S., according to CDC data published Oct. 5.
Since late August, the percentage of RSV-positive PCR tests have risen from 1.2 percent to 2.2 percent, according to the agency's most recent data reported Sept. 30.
Currently, the positivity rate is much lower compared to the same week last year. Between Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 in 2022, the percentage of positive PCR tests rose from 8.2 percent to 10.4 percent.
Regionally, the South has the highest RSV case positivity rate at 4.5 percent, followed by the West at 1.7 percent. In the Northeast, RSV positive test rates are at 1.6 percent and the Midwest is currently sitting at 1.1 percent.
Newly released research from the CDC also found that for older Americans, RSV hospitalizations can lead to worse outcomes than flu or COVID-19 hospitalizations for the same group.
For children, another population that is particularly vulnerable to RSV, experts are concerned that any type of surge could place strain on pediatric hospitals across the country.
But for the first time this virus season, RSV vaccines are available for older adults and infants.