Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Health Ministry on alert for virus among young children

The Health Ministry is currently on high alert for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19 combination illnesses, amid trends which have been affecting children under two years.
Three viruses, namely COVID-19, RSV and Influenza sometimes present in combinations which lead to a higher chance of hospitalisation and even death.
Trends have shown children presenting with a combination of RSV and COVID in recent months, putting local medical authorities on the lookout.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony informed during Monday’s COVID update, “RSV is a virus that would normally infect people. Generally, it’s mild. However, what we have noticed over the last couple of months is that RSV now is in combination with COVID and it is presenting a lot of problems for small children below the age of two.”
“We haven’t received any cases but we are on the alert because we have seen in the United States, there are three viruses that sometimes presents in combination which can result in hospitalisation and sometimes even death.”
Generally, RSV is presented with lower respiratory tract infection. This means children would have difficulty breathing and bronchitis.
As such, the Health Minister urged, “If parents know that their children are having breathing problems, they should bring them to the hospital for an examination and treatment. Generally, it is symptomatic. Depending on what symptoms the child presents with, the doctor would be able to treat.”
RSV can cause severe infection in some people, including babies 12 months and younger, and especially premature infants, older adults, people with heart and lung disease, or anyone with a weak immune system (immunocompromised).

COVID figures
In Guyana, 120 active COVID cases are being monitored, with 10 persons hospitalised and four in the Intensive Care Unit. Regionally, there is a breakdown of six cases in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 91 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 10 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and nine in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
On Monday, the Health Ministry reported two new cases. No new fatality was reported. There are 71,584 confirmed cases to date – a breakdown of 32,817 males and 38,767 females.
Four persons are in the Intensive Care Unit, six in institutional isolation, 110 in home isolation and zero in institutional quarantine. To date, 70,179 persons have recovered.
In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 179 million while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 2.8 million. Globally, there are 627 million confirmed positives with 6.5 million deaths.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue observing the public health measures set out by the Health Ministry. This encourages the need for everyone five years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for everyone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining a safe distance of six feet from others and; good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. (G12)