Number of RS virus reports increased; normal drop in May

The number of reports of infections with the RS virus has risen in the past six weeks. In addition, in the second week of April, 26 people were hospitalized with the virus, which almost all young children have. That appears from the most recent figures of the RIVM. The increase follows the abolition of almost all corona measures. Normally, the number of RS reports decreases around this time of year and peaks around the turn of the year.

The RS virus is harmless for most children: it usually goes away after a week. In some cases, babies and toddlers in particular can become short of breath and develop pneumonia. The virus can also be dangerous for the elderly in poor health.

In the summer of 2021 there was an exceptional outbreak of the RS virus. Almost all intensive care units for children were full at the time because of the outbreak. This probably had to do with the scaling down of the corona measures: by keeping a distance, the RS virus probably could not get around and children did not build up immunity. Even after the peak in July, the number of reports and admissions in the autumn remained higher than in other years.

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