RSV infections have tripled in January 2026, with experts warning this is just the beginning of a wave that threatens adults, especially seniors.
The Growing RSV Threat
While flu dominates admission wards, data from the e-Health Center shows a clear, several-fold increase in RSV infections already in January 2026. This is precisely the moment in the season when hospitalizations began to surge a year ago.
RSV is returning in waves and is now entering the most dangerous period of the season. In previous years, RSV was almost exclusively associated with pediatric wards. Today, this image less and less matches reality.
RSV in Adults: A Growing Concern
In adults—especially those over 60—the virus is responsible for severe lower respiratory tract infections, COPD exacerbations, circulatory failure, and prolonged hospital stays.
According to data reported to epidemiological surveillance systems, RSV infections in January increased more than threefold compared to the end of 2025. Experts note that this is only the beginning—the peak season typically occurs in February and March.
Similarities and Differences with Flu K
RSV circulates in two subgroups, A and B, which occur simultaneously and both can lead to severe disease. Having one does not provide effective protection against subsequent infection.
While flu variant K has accustomed us to atypical onset—headache, gastrointestinal issues, or sudden fatigue—RSV in adults works differently but with similar effects. The disease doesn’t appear threatening for a long time.
The most common scenario is several days of cough, weakness, and mild subfebrile temperature. Without spectacular fever or an acute onset, many people conclude it’s nothing serious until shortness of breath or sudden deterioration appears.
Diagnostic Challenges
While molecular tests are the gold standard in theory, they are rarely performed in primary healthcare. Rapid antigen tests, which are easier to obtain, have lower sensitivity in older adults.
The reason is purely biological: in seniors, RSV replicates for a shorter time in the upper respiratory tract, creating a narrow diagnostic window. As a result, some patients are hospitalized with severe complications despite earlier negative tests.
Who Is Most At Risk?
Experts have no doubt: RSV is now a real threat to adults, not just a pediatric issue. Those most vulnerable are adults over 60, especially those with chronic heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems.
In these groups, infection often ends in hospitalization and long recovery, with each subsequent infection worsening the baseline health status.
Vaccination Options
Paradoxically, as RSV infections increase, vaccination rates decrease. Yet experts emphasize that even during an ongoing wave, prevention still makes sense.
Poland offers two RSV vaccines: Arexvy and Abrysvo. In Scotland, after introducing a senior vaccination program, RSV-related hospitalizations dropped by over 60% in just the first season.
Double Threat for Hospitals
Hospitals are already under pressure from the flu K wave. If RSV intensifies simultaneously, internal medicine and pulmonology departments could reach a critical point. For patients, this means longer wait times for admission, higher risk of complications, and more difficult access to care at the peak of the season.
