The Georgia Department of Public Health began conducting surveillance for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in mid-August 2000. Although the duration of the RSV season in Georgia has not been established specifically, it is estimated to begin in October and last approximately 6 months.

The RSV Surveillance program in Georgia incorporates 13 sentinel sites geographically dispersed throughout the state. Laboratories report on a weekly basis the number of tests performed and the number of tests that are positive.

The following graph tracks the percentage of laboratories reporting the facility threshold level (10 percent of tests positive). The onset of RSV season, as determined by the Georgia Department of Public Health, begins when at least 50 percent of the laboratories report the facility threshold for two consecutive weeks.