Respiratory RNA viruses

Abstract

Viruses account for more episodes of respiratory tract disease than any other microbial pathogens, and exact a significant toll on society and healthcare systems, leading to increased morbidity and mortality in both pediatric and adult populations throughout the world. Annually, almost 29 to 59 million people in the United States become infected with influenza virus; >200,000 are hospitalized and approximately 36,000 die (1,2). In addition, nearly 500 million people in the U.S. experience two or more noninfluenza-related viral respiratory tract infections each year (3). The economic burden of these yearly influenza outbreaks and noninfluenza-related viral respiratory infections approaches $87.1 billion and $40 billion, respectively (3,4).