What you Need to know about RSV.

What You Need to Know About RSV This Fall: A Nurse Practitioner's Perspective
by Christie Brulhart, Nurse Practitioner at the Consort Medical Clinic 

As a nurse practitioner working here in Alberta, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly seasonal viruses like RSV can spread through our communities—especially in small towns like ours where we all look out for each other. With fall upon us and winter on the horizon, it’s a good time to talk about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)—what it is, how it spreads, who it affects the most, and how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.

What Is RSV?

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common virus that affects the lungs and airways. Most of the time, it causes mild cold-like symptoms. But in some people—especially babies, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems—RSV can lead to serious infections like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization.

How Does RSV Spread?

RSV spreads easily from person to person through:

• Coughs and sneezes

• Touching shared surfaces like toys, tables, or doorknobs

• Close contact like hugging or kissing, especially with little ones

The virus can survive on hard surfaces for several hours, which is why good handwashing and disinfecting are so important during RSV season.

Think of disinfecting high touch surfaces if someone in your household is sick – doorknobs, remotes, ect. 

Signs of RSV Infection

The symptoms can look a lot like a cold at first:

• Runny nose

• Cough

• Sneezing

• Mild fever

• Decreased appetite

In infants and vulnerable seniors, symptoms can become more serious and include:

• Wheezing

• Trouble breathing

• Blue lips or fingernails

• Extreme tiredness or poor feeding in babies

If you or your child is having difficulty breathing, it’s important to seek medical care right away.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Anyone can catch RSV, but serious illness is more likely in:

• Babies under 6 months

• Premature infants

• Children with heart or lung conditions

• Adults over 60, especially those with COPD, asthma, or heart disease

• People with weakened immune systems

• Residents of long-term care homes

How Can We Prevent RSV?

The good news is, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves and others:

• Wash your hands often

• Stay home if you’re sick

• Avoid kissing babies on the face if you have cold symptoms

• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces

• Keep infants away from crowded public places during peak RSV season (typically fall and winter)

RSV Protection in Alberta: What’s Available

We now have preventive options for those most at risk, including babies and older adults.

For Infants:

• Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is a once-per-season injection that helps protect babies from severe RSV.

• It’s offered for free through Alberta Health Services to eligible infants—typically those born just before or during RSV season, or who are medically vulnerable.

• If you’re expecting or have a newborn, talk to your public health nurse or primary care provider about it

For Older Adults:

• Arexvy is an RSV vaccine approved for adults aged 60 and up.

• While it’s not publicly funded yet in Alberta, it is available at some pharmacies or travel clinics.

• It’s especially recommended for seniors with chronic conditions like asthma, COPD, or heart failure. I often recommend it for my older patients or those in long-term care.

Final Thoughts

In a close-knit community like Consort, keeping each other healthy is something we all care about. RSV may not be a household name like the flu, but it can have serious effects—especially on our most vulnerable.

If you have questions about RSV vaccines or want to know if you or your child qualifies for protection, contact your local health clinic or primary care provider. Prevention goes a long way, and with the tools we have now, we can do a lot to protect those most at risk.

Stay safe and healthy this season,
Christie Brulhart, NP
Nurse Practitioner – Consort Medical Clinic