HORNEPAYNE—On Nov. 15, the Porcupine Health Unit, (PFU) provided its clients and residents in their service area, an explanation of what Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is.
Pediatric hospitals across Ontario are experiencing high admission rates because of RSV. Porcupine Health Unit, shared information about RSV and tips for how to help minimize the spread of the virus.
According to PHU, RSV is a common virus that infects the lungs and airways, causing mild symptoms. For most healthy individuals, RSV is like the “common cold”. Symptoms include: a stuffy nose, sore throat, mild head-ache, cough, fever and decreased appetite.
They explained that “Older children, siblings, parents and adults can easily pass the infection to children thought close contact. For some babies and children RSV can cause serious lung infections requiring hospital or ICU admissions." In fact, this season PHU reports that, "over 20% of children under the age of one, seen in Ontario emergency departments have tested positive for RSV.”
PHU shared some tips to help prevent the spread of RSV including:
- Avoid kissing or similar close contact with your baby’s face and hands, when you are feeling unwell.
- Keep your baby away from sick people.
- Wear a mask at home around young children when you are unwell.
- Encourage children two and younger to wear a mask as tolerated.
- RSV can live on counter tops and hard object for longer that six hours, so commonly touched surfaces should be washed often.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
They encourage you to screen daily for signs of illness and stay home when you are unwell. In addition, keep children home and away from day cares and school when they are sick.