Child Dies From RSV In McHenry County

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A child has died from RSV, which is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious respiratory illness, in McHenry County, health officials said.

The death marks the first death from Respiratory Syncytial Virus in McHenry County in 2024. RSV activity has been increasing over the last four weeks in McHenry County, with a rise in cases for children ages 0 to 4 years old.

At the moment, emergency department and inpatient visits among adults aged 65 and older remain low in the county, according to the news release. Health officials believe the low level of RSV transmission in older adults can be attributed to the effectiveness of the RSV vaccination.

While RSV generally causes mild, cold-like symptoms such as congestion, a runny nose, irritability, decreased appetite and fever, it can lead to more severe respiratory symptoms in infants.

Severe symptoms of RSV in babies can include short, shallow and abnormally fast breathing, a wheezing cough, nasal flaring, difficulty feeding due to breathing difficulties, unusual tiredness, a blue tint to the lips or fingernails and fever, health officials said. Parents and caregivers should seek medical care immediately if they notice these severe symptoms.

RSV spreads through droplets from coughs, sneezes, or contaminated surfaces. To help prevent the spread of the virus, it is important to cover coughs and sneezes, practice good hand hygiene by washing hands regularly and clean frequently touched surfaces. It is also essential to avoid close contact with infants, such as kissing, when sick.

Infants can contract RSV from family members or siblings who may have been exposed to the virus at school or daycare, health officials said.

There are ways to protect your loved ones from severe RSV. For infants under one year of age, a preventive antibody called Beyfortus (nirsevimab) is available, which provides protection against severe RSV illness.

This antibody is administered to newborns and babies under 1 year of age born during or entering their first RSV season. It can be given alongside routine childhood vaccines. For more information, visit beyfortus.com.

Additionally, the RSV vaccine ABRYSVO is recommended for pregnant women during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy. An RSV vaccine is also recommended for adults 75 years of age and older, as well as those aged 60 to 74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV.

The vaccine has proven effective in reducing RSV transmission and preventing severe illness, particularly in vulnerable populations, including McHenry County’s elderly. For more information, visit abrysvo.com.

The McHenry County Department of Health continues to actively monitor RSV trends throughout the season and urges all eligible residents to get vaccinated and take preventive measures to protect themselves and others