radioactive waste? and the kitchen helping chefs cook up their own businesses and inspiring america. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening everyone. we are going to begin tonight with a story that will be of particular concern to families with very young children. an alarming and unprecedented rise in cases of potentially serious respiratory virus. cases of the virus known as rsv now quickly rising in at least 32 states. rsv frequently infects children under the age of two. doctors say cases are appearing earlier in the season and more rapidly than usual the virus usually presents mild symptoms but according to the cdc can cause more serious health problems now the surge of cases is putting a strain on some hospitals forced to take extreme measures to handle the influx of rsv patients dave gutierrez now with more from connecticut, which has been especially impacted by the virus. reporter: inside connecticut children s hospital in hartford