What you need to know about recent respiratory diseases: Flu and RSV
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EmailUnderstand the importance of vaccination during increased state and national respiratory disease incidences.
Respiratory diseases, such as Influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) may be common but can be prevented with routine vaccinations. Respiratory illness severity can also be reduced when vaccinated. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported that for the 2025-2026 respiratory season, only 27% of Michigan residents received the influenza vaccine, 35% of 0-7 months old received an RSV antibody and approximately 45% of adults 75+ years received an RSV vaccine. During pregnancy, If the mother receives an RSV vaccine, typically the infant does not need the RSV antibody because they are protected by maternal vaccination. Nationally, approximately 40% of mothers who were at least 32 weeks’ gestation have been vaccinated.
According to MDHHS, flu symptoms can be mild but can range to severe illness and even death. The virus is contagious and usually occurs in the nose, throat and lungs. Nationally, pediatric deaths associated with the flu totaled 139 as of April 4, 2026. Of those, 85% were among children not fully vaccinated. In Michigan, there have been six influenza-related pediatric deaths during the 2025-2026 flu season. In addition, there were almost 8,000 hospitalizations due to influenza during this flu season.
RSV is also a respiratory virus with mild to severe symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and fever. The danger with RSV in infants is that common symptoms may not appear, just showing as lethargy, difficulty breathing and irritability. For the 2025-2026 season, MDHHS has extended the end of the season for infants and children to April 30, 2026, due to the increased incidence of RSV. MDHHS reports that the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the U.S. is RSV and leads to approximately:
- 2.1 million outpatient (non-hospitalization) visits among children younger than 5 years old
- 58,000-80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old
- 60,000-160,000 hospitalizations among adults 65 years and older
- 6,000-10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older
- 100–300 deaths in children younger than 5 years old
If you would like to learn more, explore Michigan State University Extension’s vaccine education website to find links to event schedules, podcasts, publications, webinars and videos.
