ATLANTA — A Loganville family is urging caution after their 3-week-old daughter was hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a respiratory infection seeing an uptick in cases.
Cecilia, one of the youngest RSV patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, has been in intensive care for nearly two weeks, her family said.
Her mother, Allissa Briggs, described the frightening experience of her daughter’s transfer to intensive care.
“We got transferred to ICU at four in the morning, and I walked outside bawling my eyes out, like, is my baby coming home with us?” she said.
According to one of the local doctors, severe RSV cases often affect the very young and elderly, along with individuals with weakened immune systems. While cases are increasing, they are not yet at alarming levels.
Physicians encourage families to consider preventive measures, including vaccination, to help protect against the virus. Back in June, the CDC also recommended that everyone over 75 years old receive the vaccine, including those who are at increased risk for RSV—such as those with chronic medical conditions or those living in a nursing home.
