Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Surveillance and Reporting

In 2016, MDH initiated sentinel surveillance for laboratory-confirmed RSV in hospitalized patients (of all ages) who reside in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. As of October 1, 2023, laboratory-confirmed RSV in all hospitalized patients who are Minnesota residents should be reported to MDH. Additionally, please report any death (hospitalized or non-hospitalized) in a patient with laboratory-confirmed RSV.

RSV Reporting Case Criteria

Hospitalized Cases

• Minnesota resident
• Positive RSV test by any method
  • Rapid antigen/PCR, PCR, viral culture
• Inpatient or observation status within 14 days of positive test
  • No outpatient/clinic visits

RSV-associated Deaths

• Minnesota resident
• Death in a patient within 60 days of a positive RSV test
  • Rapid antigen/PCR, PCR, viral culture
• Inpatient, observation, emergency department, or outpatient status

What to Report

• Name
• Date of birth
• Medical record number
• Sex
• County of residence
• Test type
• Collection date
• Admission Date
• Death date (if applicable)

How to report

• MDH Disease Report Card
  • RSV may be reported using the MDH “Yellow Card”
• Electronic lab report (ELR)
• Securely emailed line list
• Please call 651-201-5414 with reporting questions.

Reporting authority

• Notification Letter to Minnesota Hospitals Infection Preventionists Regarding Reporting of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations (PDF)
  9/6/2023

More about infectious disease reporting

• Infectious Disease Reporting
  Find out which infectious diseases must be reported by law in Minnesota, who is required to report diseases, how each disease can be reported, and download the appropriate forms.