With the arrival of cooler temperatures, respiratory illnesses make a comeback, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is no exception. A new preventive treatment for infants, recently offered in Quebec, is already arousing keen interest from families.
Posted at 6:28 p.m.
“The VRS is rising. This is the virus that is rising the most and it is expected to continue to rise. We have not reached the peak,” says the national director of public health of Quebec, Dr Luc Boileau, in interview with The Press.
The virus is growing across the province. The week of November 18, more than 9% of tests carried out were positive, compared to less than 7% a week earlier. A month earlier, barely 3% of tests were positive.
Hospitals are already starting to feel the effects. “The viruses started in children and we see a lot of respiratory problems,” observes the president of the Association of Emergency Medicine Specialists of Quebec, Dr.r Gilbert Boucher.
Each year, RSV circulates during the cold season, causing infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. In healthy adults and children over 2 years old, the virus mainly manifests itself with cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, cough and fever.
In immunocompromised infants and children, the consequences can be more serious, leading to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Up to one in five infants exposed to the virus will develop complications that could lead to hospitalization, underlines the Dr Boileau.
A popular medicine
To protect newborns, who are particularly likely to develop complications linked to the virus, a medication to prevent respiratory infections caused by RSV is now offered free of charge. “The protection is immediate. It turns out to be very effective in preventing infections,” says Dr.r Boileau.
The most vulnerable babies were able to have access to it from 1is October, then its administration was extended to all infants on November 4. To date, more than 19,000 doses have been administered, or 40% of the target of 50,000 doses set for the entire winter campaign. “This is an excellent start to the campaign,” said Santé Québec spokesperson Jean Nicolas Aubé.
Parents of children born since April 2 can also benefit from the medication by visiting the Clic Santé website. “We invite parents to benefit from this product even if their baby is 6 or 7 months old,” says Dr.r Boileau.
The medicine, which contains the antibody nirsevimab, is given as soon as the baby is born as a single intramuscular injection. This treatment works similar to the antibodies the body would produce after an infection or vaccination. Made in the laboratory, these antibodies attach directly to the virus and prevent it from infecting the lung cells of newborns.
Quebec also offers a free RSV vaccine to people aged 60 and over residing in CHSLDs and intermediate resources, as well as to people aged 75 and over living in private seniors’ residences (RPA).
