[Advances and challenges in the prevention and control of respiratory syncytial virus infection]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a predominant pathogen responsible for acute respiratory tract infections globally. It poses substantial health threats to infants, young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, constituting a critical public health concern. This article systematically reviews the epidemiological features of RSV, encompassing global epidemic trends, seasonal distribution patterns, genetic diversity of viral subtypes, as well as high-risk populations and associated risk factors, and elaborates on its disease burden across diverse regions and populations. Additionally, it summarizes the current progress and core strategies for RSV prevention and control from three perspectives: vaccine development, the clinical application of antiviral agents and monoclonal antibodies, and non-pharmaceutical interventions. Furthermore, this review analyzes the key challenges constraining effective RSV management, including viral variation and immune escape, the complexity of host immune responses, and the inequitable distribution of global public health resources. On this basis, we propose that a precise, multi-level, and integrated prevention and control system should be established in the future by enhancing epidemiological surveillance systems, optimizing vaccine and drug research and development technologies, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing the equitable allocation of global health resources. The findings of this review provide a reliable reference for fundamental research and public health practice targeting RSV prevention and control.