Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include: a runny or blocked nose, a cough, sneezing, tiredness, a high temperature. Usually mild and self-limiting RSV can be severe in infants and older adults who are at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infection, including bronchiolitis in infants.

How do you catch Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?
RSV is spread by the coughs and sneezes of someone who already has the virus.

Incubation period
2-8 days

Diagnosis
Based on the symptoms. Usually, self-diagnosed by the person who has the infection.

Prevention
Use a tissue to catch germs when coughing/sneezing, bin use tissues as quickly as possible. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth if your hands are not clean. Wash hands with soap and water. Wash and wipe down toys and surfaces regularly. A vaccine is available which helps to reduce the risk of catching RSV. This is available through the NHS to people in certain risk groups and ages. It is also available privately through MASTA.

Treatment
There is no specific treatment for RSV although remedies are available from a pharmacist to help relieve symptoms. Some adults and children may develop a more severe infection may be treated in hospital.

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Vaccination options

In MASTA clinics a single vaccine can be given to pregnant women aged over 18 years and those aged 60years and over.

Level of protection: Dependent of age of person vaccinated

Protection duration: For adults aged over 60 years clinical studies show the vaccine provides protection for 2 years.

How is it given: Single Injection

£280.00  Pricing shown is per dose

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Clinical Oversight By:

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross OStJ is the Medical Director of MASTA and has been associated with MASTA since 2005. He served 41 years in the Army, including over 10 years as senior advisor on public health to the UK Surgeon General. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John.

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross is the Medical Director at MASTA and has been associated with the company since 2005. He was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1983 and graduated in medicine from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London in 1986. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John. He was the senior advisor on public health from 2012–2023 to the UK Surgeon General. He retired from the Army in October 2024, after 41 years active service.

Professor David Ross was Director of Education, Honorary Secretary, and Vice Dean before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Travel Medicine, Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons (Glasgow) in October 2024. Recent travel medicine research interests have included malaria prevention and tuberculosis screening. He was Chief Examiner of the Diploma of Medicine in Conflict & Catastrophes at the Society of Apothecaries until 2024, is Chair of the Final UK MFPH and an Examiner at the UK Faculty of Public Health.

The last few years of his military working life were dominated by supporting the international and national public health response to COVID-19, where he managed many large COVID outbreaks both overseas and in the UK. David also led research into risk factors for mental ill health in the UK Army and for this was awarded a PhD by the University of Glasgow in 2024.