In recent weeks, the number of young children with an RS virus infection has increased so much that there is an epidemic. This is not only the case in the Netherlands, but also in other countries in and outside Europe, according to recent international research by Nivel and colleagues. This is very remarkable, since an RS virus epidemic actually mainly occurs in winter. Due to the corona measures, hardly any young children with an RS virus infection were hospitalized last winter. That is why there is now a delayed or delayed RS virus epidemic. This reports Level.
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Because young children were barely able to build up protection against a serious RS virus infection last winter, a larger group of young children is susceptible to an RS virus infection. That is why it is predicted that this summer and the coming autumn and winter there will be a ‘catch-up’ of young children with an RS virus infection.
RS virus now also affects more children between 1 and 2 years
Normally, especially children under the age of 1 become seriously ill due to an RS virus infection. But because young children hardly built up any protection last winter, GPs and paediatricians are now seeing more children who are now slightly older; between 1 and 2 years.
Closing schools has had an inhibitory effect
The closure of schools during corona seems to have played an important role in inhibiting the spread of the RS virus. In countries where there has been a delayed RS virus epidemic (in spring or summer) since the corona pandemic – France, Iceland, Belgium, Australia and South Africa – primary schools and childcare facilities were open just before and during the epidemic. In the Netherlands, the number of patients with an RS virus infection can be seen increasing from April, after primary schools and childcare were reopened. And since June 24, there has been an official RS virus epidemic in the Netherlands.
By: National Education Guide
Bron: Level, https://www.nivel.nl/nl/nieuws/uitgestelde-rs-virusepidemie-door-de-coronamaatregelen-nederland-en-daarbuiten, accessed on 7/27/2021
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