Last year’s wave of RS virus infections was the largest in many years. This was because many of the young children, who are among those most affected by the virus, had been born during the pandemic.
During the peak of the corona pandemic, many did everything to reduce the spread of infection, which led to other viruses, such as the RS virus, not spreading as they usually do.
Normally, it is assumed that all children have had the RS virus by the age of two, but this was not the case last season.
Right now we are at the beginning of the season’s spread of infection, which has come earlier than before the pandemic. We have had an increased spread of infection for almost four weeks and we are at the beginning of the epidemic.
– It will continue to increase. This means that more children will need to be cared for in hospital during this period, says AnnaSara Carnahan, epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency.
Continued increased spread of infection going forward
What happens when small children need to be cared for in hospital is that they need help with breathing and oxygen.
There are a few ways to reduce the risk of contracting RSV. AnnaSara Carnahan believes that you should wash your hands, consider who is allowed to hold your babies and refrain from sending sick children to preschool.
– If you have older siblings for an infant and the older siblings start to catch a cold, you should preferably not let them be so close to each other. Also teach older siblings to wash their hands before cuddling with the little sibling.
The spread of infection continues to increase in the country and the peak may be far away.
– Now we are on our way to a peak, but when it comes we will see, says AnnaSara Carnahan.
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Tags: Epidemiologist virus widespread year
