Surge in killer lung virus fuels ‘tripledemic’ fears – as new threat emerges ‘targeting the young’

HEALTH bosses have warned of a surge in a super common bug that can cause dangerous lung infections - amid fears of a winter "tripledemic". An uptick in RSV infections has seen more babies admitted to hospital with severe chest infections, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus - it's a common and contagious group of viruses that's behind many childhood coughs and colds .

In fact, most children will get an infection caused by RSV before the age of two. The bug can cause a chest infection called bronchiolitis . Most tots will only get cold-like symptoms and a slightly high temperature from the infection, but they can also start wheezing and breathing more quickly.

Read more on viruses In some cases, bronchiolitis can turn serious, causing breathing difficulties that will need to be treated in hospital. UKHSA said more babies had been taken to hospital with a serious chest infection in the week leading up to October 10. Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “We are beginning to see cases of RSV increasing, as well as emergency department attendances for acute bronchiolitis, caused by RSV.

" According to the health watchdog, emergency department attendances for acute bronchiolitis have increased across the country. Most read in Health It comes amid warnings of looming a winter "tripledemic" caused by "colliding" surges of Covid , flu and RSV . The NHS rolled out a vital jab that protects against RSV infection.