Steps To Prevent RSV Infections In The Elderly In Disaster Evacuation

Illustration (Pexels/Ahmed akacha)

JAKARTA - Various areas in Sumatra, Indonesia, are currently facing flash floods, which have claimed hundreds of lives and many have fled. In the midst of flooding, uncertain weather, to the lack of nutritious food intake, people who experience it are susceptible to disease.

Especially for those who are at high risk, such as the elderly or the elderly. One of the infections that is prone to being experienced by the elderly in this condition is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild symptoms such as colds, but can have serious consequences for vulnerable groups such as infants and the elderly. This virus can cause infection in the nose, throat, and lungs, and spread quickly through direct contact or fluid droplets when coughing and sneezing.

The elderly are susceptible to hospitalization because their immune system has weakened. For the elderly with comorbid diseases, the possibility of infection is also higher and can treat complications.

Even a healthy elderly person, if he is exposed to an RSV, regardless of whether he has comorbidities or not, it has made the risk higher to get into severe infections, said an internal medicine specialist, dr. Robert Sinto, SpPD, K-PTI, DPhil, FINASIM, FHEA, in Sudirman, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Therefore, it is very important to take steps to prevent the transmission of RSV in the elderly, especially if they are in disaster locations and evacuations. One of the steps is that the elderly are advised to keep their distance from people with symptoms of RSV infection, such as runny nose, headache, fever, and sore throat.

"Keep your distance. On the evacuation scale, everyone gathers, right, that's a new role from the government to help so that PHBS can be carried out at the individual level," he said.

Doctor Robert also said that it is necessary to provide support for the elderly such as living in a clean place, receiving nutritious food, maintaining personal hygiene, and exercising if possible. The government is expected to assign a companion to meet the needs of the elderly affected by the disaster.

In addition, vaccination also needs to be carried out for the elderly who live in refugee camps, for higher prevention of infection with RSV. In the elderly, the RSV vaccine can be given from the age of 60 years and over.