Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)  
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually cause mild, cold-like symptoms. However, RSV can be serious and infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. Laboratory-confirmed RSV disease became reportable for all hospitalized residents of the metropolitan area in September 2016. Any death occurring statewide within 60 days of a positive RSV test is also reportable. Typically, RSV circulates during the colder months of the year (October-April), however RSV activity has differed in recent years from the usual seasonality.

From October 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023, 1,812 cases were reported. From May 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023, 26 cases were reported. Combined, from October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023, there were 1,838 cases reported (59 cases per 100,000 persons), compared to 988 cases reported (32 cases per 100,000 persons) from October 2021 – September 2022. The overall median age was 1.5 years (range: 0 days – 104 years). Fifty-five percent (1,015) were <2 years of age: 25% (467) were <6 months, 14% (255) were 6 months – 11 months, and 16% (293) were 1 year – <2 years. Sixteen percent (291) were 2-4 years, 5% (90) were 5 – 17 years, 4% (69) were 18 – 49 years, 5% (87) were 50 – 64 years, and 16% (286) were >65 years of age. Overall, 53% of RSV cases were male and 58% were white.

Forty-eight percent (887) of cases had a co-morbid condition at the time of their illness, and presence of a co-morbid condition increased significantly as age increased. The most common co-morbid conditions for cases <2 years of age were prematurity (54%), chronic lung disease (22%) and cardiovascular disease (20%). For cases 2 – 17 years of age it was chronic lung disease (55%), neurologic conditions (32%), cardiovascular disease (16%), and feeding tube dependence (16%). The most common underlying conditions for adults 18-64 years of age and older adults (≥65 years) were chronic metabolic disease (32% and 50% respectively), cardiovascular disease (36% and 73% respectively), chronic lung disease (50% and 55 % respectively), hypertension (46% and 82% respectively), and depression (30% and 28%, respectively).

Forty-four RSV-associated deaths were reported during the regular the 2022-2023 respiratory season: 21 during hospitalization, and 20 within 60 days of hospital discharge and one outpatient. All deaths occurred between September 30, 2022, and May 1, 2023. The median age of all deaths was 70 years (range 6 months to 104 years), and 40 deaths had comorbid conditions. Identification of additional RSV-associated deaths is ongoing.

• For up to date information see: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus disease (RSV) became reportable for all hospitalized residents of the metropolitan area in September 2016. Any death occurring statewide within 60 days of a positive RSV test is also reportable. Typically, RSV circulates during the colder months of the year (October-April), however RSV activity has differed in recent years from the usual seasonality.

From October 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022, 623 cases were reported. From May 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022, 365 cases were reported. Combined, from October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022, there were 988 cases reported (32 cases per 100,000 persons), compared to 670 cases were reported (22 cases per 100,000 persons) from October 2020 – September 2021. The overall median age was 11 months (range: 0 days – 98 years). Sixty-eight percent (674) were <2 years of age: 35% (347) were <6 months, 17% (163) were 6 months – 11 months, and 17% (164) were 1 year – <2 years. Fourteen percent (137) were 2-4 years, 4% (36) were 5 – 17 years, 3% (30) were 18 – 49 years, 3% (27) were 50 – 64 years, and 9% (84) were >65 years of age. Overall, 51% of RSV cases were male and 50% were white.

Thirty-nine percent (393) of cases had a co-morbid condition at the time of their illness and presence of a co-morbid condition increased significantly as age increased. The most common co-morbid conditions for cases <2 years of age were prematurity (58%), chronic lung disease (19%) and cardiovascular disease (15%). For cases 2 – 17 years of age, the most common co-morbid conditions were chronic lung disease (55%), neurologic conditions (42%), cardiovascular disease (24%), and feeding tube dependent (18%). The most common underlying conditions for adults 18-64 years of age and older adults (≥65 years) were chronic metabolic disease (38% and 52% respectively), cardiovascular disease (48% and 66% respectively), chronic lung disease (56% and 49% respectively), and hypertension (46% and 81% respectively).

Thirteen RSV-associated deaths were reported during the regular the 2021- 2022 respiratory season. Eleven deaths occurred during hospitalization and 3 within 60 days of hospital discharge. From May 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021, 3 deaths were reported: 2 during hospitalization and 1 within 60 days of hospital discharge. The median age of all deaths was 78 years (range 69 years to 96 years), and all 17 deaths had co-morbid conditions. Identification of additional RSV-associated deaths is ongoing.

• For up to date information see: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus disease (RSV) became reportable for all hospitalized residents of the metropolitan area in September 2016. Any death occurring statewide within 60 days of a positive RSV test is also reportable.

From October 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020, 774 cases were reported (13.7 cases per 100,000 persons) compared to 721 cases (12.9 cases per 100,000 persons) from October 2018 – April 2019. The overall median age was 10 months (range: 8 days – 100 years). Sixty-six percent (514) were <2 years: 38% (291) were <6 months, 15% (116) were 6 months – 11 months, and 14% (107) were 1 year – <2 years. Eight percent (64) were 2-4 years, 2% (14) were 5 – 17 years, 4% (31) were 18 – 49 years, 6% (46) were 50 – 64 years, and 14% (105) were >65 years of age. Overall, 53% of RSV cases were male and 52% were white.

Forty-five percent of cases had a co-morbid condition at the time of their illness, and presence of a co-morbid condition increased significantly as age increased. The most common co-morbid conditions for cases <2 years of age were prematurity (18%), cardiovascular disease (5%), and chronic lung disease (4%). For cases 2 – 17 years of age, chronic lung disease (24%), asthma/reactive airway disease (18%), and neurologic conditions (17%) were recorded. The most common underlying conditions for adults 18-64 years of age and older adults (≥65 years) were chronic metabolic disease (29% and 46% respectively), cardiovascular disease (38% and 72% respectively), and chronic lung disease (45% and 51% respectively).

Nineteen RSV-associated deaths were reported for the 2019-2020 respiratory season: 11 died during hospitalization, and 8 within 60 days of discharge from the hospital. The median age of fatal RSV cases was 73 years (range: 11 years – 90 years), and all 19 had co-morbid conditions.

• For up to date information see: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus disease (RSV) became reportable for all hospitalized residents of the metropolitan area September 2016. Any death occurring statewide within 60 days of a positive RSV test is also reportable.

From October 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020, 774 cases were reported (13.7 cases per 100,000 persons) compared to 721 cases (12.9 cases per 100,000 persons) from October 2018 – April 2019. The overall median age was 10 months (range: 8 days – 100 years). Sixty-six percent (514) were <2 years: 38% (291) were <6 months, 15% (116) were 6 months – 11 months, and 14% (107) were 1 year – <2 years. Eight percent (64) were 2-4 years, 2% (14) were 5 – 17 years, 4% (31) were 18 – 49 years, 6% (46) were 50 – 64 years, and 14% (105) were ≥65 years of age. Overall, 53% of RSV cases were male and 52% were white.

Forty-five percent of cases had a comorbid condition at the time of their illness, and presence of a co-morbid condition increased significantly as age increased. The most common co-morbid conditions for cases <2 years of age were prematurity (18%), cardiovascular disease (5%), and chronic lung disease (4%). For cases 2 – 17 years of age, chronic lung disease (24%), asthma/reactive airway disease (18%), and neurologic conditions (17%) were recorded. The most common underlying conditions for adults 18-64 years of age and older adults (≥65 years) were chronic metabolic disease (29% and 46% respectively), cardiovascular disease (38% and 72% respectively), and chronic lung disease (45% and 51% respectively).

Nineteen RSV-associated deaths were reported for the 2019-2020 respiratory season: 11 died during hospitalization, and 8 within 60 days of discharge from the hospital. The median age of fatal RSV cases was 73 years (range: 11 years – 90 years), and all 19 had co-morbid conditions. Identification of additional RSV-associated deaths is ongoing.

• For up to date information see: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Beginning September 2016, laboratoryconfirmed respiratory syncytial virus disease (RSV) became reportable for all hospitalized residents of the metropolitan area. Any death occurring statewide within 60 days of a positive RSV test is also reportable.

From October 1, 2018–April 30, 2019, 721 cases were reported (12.9 cases per 100,000 persons) compared to 1,090 cases (18.8 cases per 100,000) from October 2017-April 2018. The median age was 9 months (range: 8 days–98 years). Forty percent (285) were <6 months, 15% (109) were 6-11 months, 16% (117) were 1 year to <2 years, 9% (68) were 2-4 years, 3% (24) were 5–17 years, 2% (12) were 18–49 years, 4% (27) were 50–64 years, and 11% (79) were >65 years of age. Overall, 53% of RSV cases were male and 48% were white.

Forty-one percent of cases had a co-morbid condition at the time of their illness, and the presence of a co-morbid condition increased significantly as age increased. The most common comorbid conditions for cases <2 years of age were prematurity (13%), neurologic conditions (4%), asthma/reactive airways disease (3%), and cardiovascular disease (3%). For cases 2-18 years of age, neurologic conditions (24%), history of prematurity (14%), and asthma (21%) were most common. The most common underlying conditions for adults 18-64 years of age and older adults (≥65 years) were chronic metabolic diseases (46% and 43% respectively), cardiovascular disease (33% and 72% respectively), and chronic lung diseases (26% and 34% respectively).

Of 159 RSV cases with a known subtype, 78% (124) tested positive for RSV subtype A, 21% (30) were positive with RSV B, and 1 was positive with both RSV A and B.

Eighteen RSV-associated deaths were reported for the 2018–2019 respiratory season. The median age of fatal RSV cases was 81 years (range 4 months–98 years), and 14 cases who died had underlying medical conditions. Identification of additional RSV-associated deaths is ongoing.

• For up to date information see: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

• Archive of Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health
  Archive of past summaries (years prior to 2023 are available as PDFs).