Viruses like the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) might not be as commonly talked about as COVID-19, but RSV is a leading cause of respiratory infections around the world—and needs to be taken seriously.
Each year, RSV causes 24.8 million infections. RSV is a major cause of death of children under the age of five and of hospitalizations in people age 65 and older.
South Africa has been seeing increased surges of RSV infection rates, with the highest rates peaking from February through June. And with the summer months rapidly approaching, RSV prevention is more important than ever.
So, what is RSV?
RSV is a common, highly contagious virus that leads to cold-like symptoms that can rapidly escalate into serious infections of the lungs and airways, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. It spreads through the air via coughs, sneezes and other contact. It can be passed on easily as we play and interact with our loved ones.
About 8% of deaths of South African children under the age of five are caused by these respiratory infections. But in recent years, annual surges of RSV have infected more people than expected in every age group. Because RSV is highly contagious, it quickly spreads to vulnerable children and seniors.
Help pioneer new treatments for RSV
Synexus is currently looking for healthy volunteers to help advance research into a vaccine to protect against respiratory viruses.
When grandparents are infected with RSV, the grandchildren they care for are at risk, too. Vaccines may offer protection from this.
Become a Synexus volunteer today
Have you ever considered participating in a research study? Here are some points to consider:
- You will be contributing to the future of medicine.
Find out more about how you can participate in one of our clinical trials by visiting synexusclinicalresearch.co.za
Or for more information or how to apply for the studies, call: 012 004 2695
This post and content was produced in partnership with the Synexus.
