Acute viral respiratory infections are the most common illnesses experienced by people worldwide. Most notable amongst these are rhinoviruses, influenza (Flu A and B), adenoviruses, picornaviruses, respiratory syncy-tial virus, parainfluenza viruses 1-3, human metapneu-movirus, human coronaviruses and the herpesviruses. Their reported frequency ranges from 0 to 7 per annum, and this diminishes with increasing age [1]. At least one such virus is isolated in up to 53% of patients attending an emergency department with acute respiratory tract infections [2]. Respiratory viruses are usually self-resolving in the immunocompetent host. In those who are immu-nocompromised as well as in a proportion of otherwise well individuals, however, they can pose potentially life-threatening consequences.
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