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JAMA. 2002;287:834-835.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

MMWR. 2002;51:26-28

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has a worldwide distribution and can cause serious lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI). RSV is most commonly considered a pathogen among infants and young children; however, it can cause serious LRTI throughout life, especially among those with compromised respiratory, cardiac, or immune systems and the elderly.^1-3 In temperate climates, RSV infections occur primarily during annual outbreaks, which peak during winter months.⁴ In the United States, RSV activity is monitored by the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), a laboratory-based surveillance system. This report summarizes trends in RSV activity reported to NREVSS during July 2000–June 2001 and presents preliminary surveillance data from the weeks ending July 7 through December 8, 2001, indicating the onset of the 2001-02 RSV season. Health-care providers should consider RSV in the differential diagnosis of lower respiratory tract disease in persons of all ages, use isolation . . . [Full Text of this Article]