Respiratory Targets

RSV is the most common single cause of respiratory hospitalization of infants and is the second largest cause of lower respiratory infection mortality worldwide. This year RSV rates are exceeding the usual number of cases, exacerbated by the immunity gap of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As a result, healthcare resources are being stretched, creating new challenges.

In the United States, population-based surveillance for hospitalized cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza is conducted in 14 sites. However, surveillance for other causes of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) is not well established. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) participates in ongoing hospital-based surveillance to characterize and monitor SARI.