More than 11,000 children have been hospitalized due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) over the past five years in Canada, reveals a study from the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Half of them were infants under 6 months old.
“This demonstrates that RSV is a significant burden in pediatrics in Canada,” says Dr.r Jesse Papenburg, co-senior author of the study and pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
A total of 11,014 virus-related hospitalizations were recorded in 13 Canadian pediatric hospitals between 2017 and 2022, according to the study published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open. Nearly a quarter of these children were admitted to intensive care.
“It only paints the picture of these pediatric hospitals. There are also a lot of hospitalizations that take place in community hospitals,” specifies the Dr Papenburg.
Vulnerable infants
RSV, which can sometimes be confused with a cold, hit toddlers hard last fall. Children’s hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of young patients with complications.
The virus, which causes infection of the lungs and respiratory tract, circulates every year during the cold season. It mainly causes symptoms reminiscent of a cold, namely a runny nose, cough and fever.
However, in infants, the virus can cause many problems. “It’s really during these first months of life that our children are most vulnerable and most likely to have a serious RSV infection,” says Dr.r Papenburg. The virus is transmitted through the respiratory secretions of sick people, especially when people sneeze or touch surfaces.
A series of measures
To reduce the risks of hospitalizations linked to the virus, the Dr Papenburg suggests administering monoclonal antibodies to infants. Since the early 2000s, palivizumab has often been given to babies born prematurely, since it reduces the risk of hospitalization linked to the virus by around 50%. To remain effective, however, it must be injected approximately once a month during the RSV season.
A new monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, was approved by Health Canada in April. “The big advantage is that a single injection protects for an entire RSV season,” says Dr.r Papenburg. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is currently in the process of establishing its recommendations for its administration.
The Dr Papenbug also suggests vaccinating pregnant women against RSV. A vaccine is under review by Health Canada. “We expect a decision at the beginning of 2024 at the latest,” indicates the pediatric infectious disease specialist. This vaccine would allow future mothers to develop antibodies that they would transmit to their baby and the baby would thus be protected during his first months of life.
More than 1,500 people hospitalized with COVID-19
RSV is currently experiencing a slight resurgence in its spread. The positivity rate of tests carried out is currently 2.4%.
However, this remains well below COVID-19, which currently has a positivity rate of 24%, a level not seen since the Omicron wave. There are now 1,529 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 36 in intensive care.
Deaths are also slightly increasing. Quebec is currently deploring eight deaths per day attributed to COVID-19. By July, the average had dropped to less than one per day.
As since the start of the pandemic, deaths are largely concentrated among the elderly. Moreover, the number of outbreaks in the health network is increasing sharply. There are 205 facilities experiencing an active outbreak, mainly CHSLDs, compared to 39 in July.