A new health alarm comes this time from Germany. In fact, German intensive care physicians announced yesterday that the pediatric wards of the country’s hospitals I am on the verge of a boom in cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) among newborns.
DIVI, the authority for the German resuscitation association, said the seasonal increase in RSV cases and a shortage of nurses was causing a “catastrophic situation” in hospitals.
RSV is a common and highly contagious virus that infects almost all infants and children up to age 2, some of whomI can get seriously ill. According to experts, the easing of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic is causing an increase in respiratory syncytial virus infections, and the immune systems of very young children are not always ready to adequately deal with the threat.
According to DIVI – which cited a recent study – there are less than 100 free pediatric beds in intensive care units and, to make matters worse, the situation could get worse.
“If our predictions are correct, the picture will get worse in the coming days and weeks,” Sebastian Brenner, head of the pediatric intensive care unit at Dresden University Hospital, told German news channel n-TV. Far worse was Dr. Michael Sasse, head of the pediatric intensive care unit at the MHH university hospital in Hanover. 🇧🇷The situation is so precarious that we really have to say that the children are dying because we can no longer cure them.”he said.
WHO: “Worrying increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)”
That German doctors are not alarming is also witnessed by a joint statement by the EU, WHO Europe and ECDC: “The epidemic of the 2022-2023 flu season started early in the European region with a worrying increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); at the same time, COVID-19 is still a threat. Currently, the region is experiencing an increasing circulation of influenza and RSV. Along with Covid-19, these viruses are expected to have a major impact on our health services and population this winter. This highlights how important it is for vulnerable groups to be vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, as well as to protect themselves and others from infection.”
What is RSV
RSV (acronym derived from the English “Respiratory Syncytial Virus”) is a viral agent capable of infecting the respiratory system of patients of any age, but which mainly affects children in the first years of life. Respiratory syncytial virus infects the airway epithelium, where it causes cell necrosis. The virus usually causes pneumonia and can involve the smallest branches of the bronchi (bronchiolitis).
Source: Fan Page IT
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
