Manitoba program aimed at protecting vulnerable babies, toddlers from RSV starts early as cases rise
CBC
As Manitoba sees a surge of RSV cases, a program aimed at protecting babies and toddlers at risk of getting the sickest if infected has started early this cold and flu season.
The province's RSV prophylaxis program provides antibody treatments throughout RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, season to young children identified to be at highest risk, said Dr. Aaron Chiu, the program's medical director and a neonatologist at Winnipeg Children's Hospital.
"When we run into a cold virus we create antibodies to fight it next time around, or even fight that current infection," he said.
"What this product does is that antibody that we normally make, we just give it to the babies so that they have some natural protection against it."
RSV is a virus that affects small airways of the lungs. Symptoms can include coughing, runny nose, fever and loss of appetite, and it can also affect breathing. In severe cases, it can lead to hospitalization.
Over the four-month period ending Oct. 31, the Children's Hospital in Winnipeg has seen a higher number of kids with RSV than normal for this time of year, a Shared Health spokesperson said Monday. That includes 48 cases in October, with 14 needing to be hospitalized.
Respiratory illnesses and influenza are believed to be driving a significant rise in patient volumes at the Children's Hospital emergency department over the past 10 days, Shared Health said.
The fact the virus is already circulating is why the RSV program started a couple of weeks early this year, said Chiu.
"We usually start seeing … [RSV cases] toward the tail end of November, beginning of December, and we started hearing from our colleagues across the country that they're seeing RSV cases more regularly," said Chiu.
"We figure it's important to get the patients protected."
Chiu said the treatment reduces the risk of a severe RSV-related hospitalization for those at highest risk from the illness, including premature babies and young children with underlying heart and lung conditions.
About 1,000 young children are referred to the program each year in Manitoba, and roughly 300 babies and toddlers meet the criteria for the treatment, he said.
While the majority of kids are two years old or younger, there are kids up to the age of four receiving bone marrow transplants who fit the criteria for the program.
The program in Manitoba launched in 2004 and was initially run by Canadian Blood Services, according to Shared Health.
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