I don't think this will surprise anyone in the South. Len Leshin, MD Year-round Epidemic of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Documented WESTPORT, May 22 (Reuters) - Respiratory syncytial virus has been thought of as a seasonal condition that peaks in the winter. A new study has documented a continuous, nonseasonal epidemic among children in the southeastern United States. In the May issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Drs. Diane C. Halstead and Stephen G. Jenkins, of the Baptist/St. Vincent's Health System and the University Medical Center, in Jacksonville, Florida, report on their analysis of more than 5,000 fresh nasal aspirates or washings collected from pediatric patients between May 1993 and December 1996 at two large southern hospitals. In 28% of the specimens, enzyme immunoassay was positive for respiratory syncytial virus antigen. The authors found "a persistent epidemic" throughout the study period. "We defined an epidemic as 2 consecutive months in each of which [at least] 10% of the specimens were positive and [at least] 2 positive specimens were detected," they write. The researchers recommend that "...healthcare workers consider [respiratory syncytial virus] in the differential diagnosis of acute respiratory illness throughout the year in pediatric patients from the southeast United States. "[T]hese findings are particularly important considering the new immune globulin for prophylaxis of [respiratory syncytial virus] disease in high-risk infants and young children," Drs. Halstead and Jenkins point out. South Med J 1998;91:433-436.