Guidance

Respiratory viruses

Guidance, resources and information for professionals about respiratory viruses.

Respiratory viruses can infect any age group. Severe complications are often restricted to children and the elderly. These viruses are most commonly transmitted by airborne droplets or nasal secretions and can lead to a wide spectrum of illness. In the UK many of these viruses are seasonal in their activity and tend to circulate at higher levels during the winter months.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Seasonal influenza: guidance, data and analysis

Pandemic flu: public health response

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs)

Diagnosis, treatment and management

The Respiratory virus unit (RVU) provides laboratory services for respiratory virus infections.

The Respiratory and vaccine preventable bacteria reference unit (RVPBRU) provides reference laboratory services for a number of bacteria causing respiratory, systemic and vaccine preventable bacterial infections.

Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMI) G 8: Respiratory viruses

Managing common infections: guidance for primary care

Epidemiology

Respiratory pathogen circulation, England and Wales, 2007 to 2018

Updates to this page

Published 22 November 2007

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