RSV cases rising sharply in young children across Wales, new data shows
RSV cases among young children in Wales have risen sharply, according to the latest weekly surveillance report from the Welsh Government’s Science Evidence Advice team.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common winter infection that usually causes cold like symptoms, but can lead to bronchiolitis and breathing difficulties in babies and very young children.
It is one of the most common causes of infant hospital admissions in winter.
Public Health Wales advises parents to be alert to fast breathing, wheezing, reduced feeding and fewer wet nappies, and to seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
A seasonal RSV immunisation is offered to eligible newborns through the NHS Wales programme.
The report, which covers week 46 of 2025 up to 16 November, shows the number of confirmed community acquired RSV admissions increasing to 63.
Incidence among children aged up to five years almost doubled in a week, rising from 30.5 to 60.4 per 100,000 people.
During the same period there were 48 in patient cases of confirmed RSV, two of whom were in critical care.
Short term projections produced for the Welsh Government suggest RSV admissions will continue to increase nationally over the next two weeks.
Projections also indicate rising admissions in several health boards, including Betsi Cadwaladr, which provides acute care across all six North Wales counties.
Sentinel GP practices are reporting increasing respiratory activity in younger age groups.
Sentinel sites form a fixed network of GP surgeries and pharmacies that supply consistent weekly surveillance data and act as an early indicator of viral trends across Wales.
The rise in RSV comes as COVID-19 pressures continue to ease.
Community acquired COVID-19 admissions fell from 33 to 28 in the latest week.
The number of inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 decreased from 215 to 163, with two people in critical care.
Positive tests in hospitals and non sentinel GP practices declined to 3.1 per cent.
Short term projections show COVID-19 admissions expected to decrease further in all health boards.
Flu activity is also increasing.
Confirmed community acquired influenza admissions rose slightly from 62 to 65, and test positivity increased to 12 per cent.
There were 79 in patient cases of confirmed flu compared with 76 the previous week.
Most confirmed cases were influenza A.
Flu related GP consultations have risen in recent weeks and are now above the level normally seen at this point in the season.
Elsewhere in the report, norovirus cases have fallen in the most recent week and remain lower than the same period last year.
Whooping cough notifications have decreased and remain at very low levels.
Scarlet fever notifications have increased.
The surveillance update also notes a confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 at a large commercial poultry unit near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, where a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been declared.
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