NEWS RELEASE
HAMILTON HEALTH SCIENCES
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HAMILTON, ON – Experts at Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) are seeing an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases, and anticipate higher numbers as children go back to school after the holidays. RSV admissions more than tripled from November to December this year, and RSV positive cases seen in the hospital emergency room and wards more than doubled this December compared to the previous year.
Physicians and health experts at HHS would like to remind parents and guardians that the RSV immunization Beyfortus® is available at clinics at MCH and West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) for all infants under the age of one year. More information about these clinics can be found at https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share/news-rsv-medicine-available/.
“The emergency department at MCH is becoming busier as we head deeper into the winter season, and RSV is coming through the doors more often than not,” says Dr. Jeffrey Pernica, infectious disease specialist at MCH. “The RSV immunization Beyfortus® helps protect your baby by boosting their antibodies to reduce severe illness.”
Families/caregivers of babies under the age of one year, can contact the McMaster Children’s Hospital clinic at 905-521-2345 and the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital clinic at 905-945-2253, ext. 11401 and leave a message to schedule an appointment. A clinic staff member will return your call to book the appointment.
“RSV can cause a very serious disease in newborns and young infants,” says Dr. Pernica. “Because infants – especially young infants – are so much smaller, RSV infection can cause difficulty breathing, which often prompts a trip to the emergency department and can cause admission to hospital or even hospitalization within the intensive care unit.”
For more information on the various healthcare options this respiratory season, please visit https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share/news-respiratory-season-2024/.
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