Urgent warning as tens of thousands of Australian babies are struck down by contagious virus – as doctors warn infection rates could get even worse over winter
An urgent warning has been issued after tens of thousands of Australian babies were struck by respiratory syncytial virus.
So far in 2024, more than 47,000 cases of RSV have been recorded in children under the age of five, and doctors predict an even greater increase during the winter months.
As the Immunization Foundation of Australia kicked off its RSV Awareness Week on Sunday, doctors warned infection rates could get worse in winter.
“There are certainly higher numbers right now for this time of year than what we’ve seen in previous years,” Hannah Moore, head of Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute, told me. news.com.au.
RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus that infects the respiratory tract and lungs and spreads through coughing and sneezing.
So far, more than 47,000 cases of RSV have been recorded in children under the age of five, and doctors predict an even greater increase during the winter months
RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus that infects the respiratory tract and lungs and spreads through coughing and sneezing
It is especially harmful to babies, but also to the elderly.
So far this year, 70 percent of RSV cases are in children under the age of five, and more than 13,000 cases have been recorded in people aged 60 and over.
Ms Moore said the majority of children infected with RSV end up developing a relatively mild case of the infection, but for others it can be much more serious and in rare cases fatal.
“RSV mainly affects young children and infants, especially those under six months of age, those most at risk of serious illness,” she said.
Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales all implemented RSV immunization programs for babies this year, but the other states and territories do not currently have access to the vaccine.
This year, 70 percent of RSV cases involved children under the age of five
Those at higher risk of serious infection from RSV include premature infants, indigenous peoples, and people with weakened immune systems or neurological conditions.
According to the Immunization Foundation of Australia, nationwide RSV immunization of babies would prevent 10,000 hospital admissions each year.
Dr. Lisa McHugh, an infectious disease and perinatal epidemiologist at the University of Queensland, said the number of active infections is expected to rise as temperatures drop.
“By the beginning of winter, we have already recorded almost two-thirds of the total number of RSV cases in 2023. This is well above the normal curve,” she said. Medianet.
‘Without immunisation, we know that around 12,000 Australian babies are admitted to hospital every year with pneumonia and bronchiolitis caused by RSV, with one in four requiring intensive care.
‘It’s great that for the first time we can protect babies and the elderly from RSV, but it’s not sustainable to have infant immunization programs in some states and not others, nor to ask older Australians to pay hundreds of dollars every year for RSV -protection. ‘
Ms Hughes will join infectious disease experts at the Federal Parliament Building on Tuesday, June 4, to brief MPs on the latest research into RSV.
