A total of 171 children, half of whom are under three months old, have been hospitalized in Portugal due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control announced Monday. (ECDC).
In Portugal, from week 47 [última semana de novembro], authorities reported an increasing trend in RSV-related hospitalizations of children under two years of age. In this age group, 171 hospitalizations were accumulated during the current season, with around 50% of the cases of less than three months”, says an ECDC risk analysis published this Monday.
According to the European center, RSV infection usually causes mild illness, but the severity of clinical manifestations varies considerably with age.
The groups most affected by the serious disease caused by this virus are children under five years of age, especially babies under six months of age, adults over 65 years of age and people with specific comorbidities.
“Hospitalizations caused by RSV and other respiratory pathogens such as influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, are are increasing in some Member States and are already putting pressure on health systems”warns the ECDC.
The center rates the risk of RSV infection as low for the general population and high for children younger than six months, adults 65 and older, and people with specific illnesses.
“The risk that RSV, the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 will put pressure on health systems in the coming weeks is assessed as high” in European countries, the document advances.
The center also adds that the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA) are also “experiencing an early flu season and a possible resurgence of Covid-19”, after weeks of declining cases and hospitalizations.
The holiday season at the end of the year is associated with activities such as social gatherings, shopping and travel, which present significant additional risks for the transmission of RSV and other respiratory viruses”, highlighted the ECDC director.
Given this, Andrea Ammon defended that strengthening health systems and supporting health professionals “must be a priority”, due to the risk of strong pressure in the coming weeks.
ECDC recommends that countries implement risk communication to the public, promoting the importance of vaccination against seasonal flu and Covid-19, and better RSV surveillance and testing for respiratory viruses.
“At this time of year, RSV infections are not uncommon, however this year there is more RSV activity and it started earlier than in the seasons prior to covid-19,” underlines the European center.
Source: Observadora
