2010-03-03 04:19:04 - Epidemic Hazard - Canada EDIS CODE: EH-20100303-25178-CAN
Date & Time: 2010-03-03 04:19:04 [UTC]
Area: Canada, , , '!!! WARNING !!! Not confirmed information! Description: A powerful virus is hitting babies in the Bethel region hard. Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, an illness that starts with cold-like symptoms but can deteriorate into pneumonia, have spiked dramatically at the regional hospital in the Southwest Alaska city, officials said. The pediatric unit hasn't seen this much RSV activity in at least a decade, said Lori Chikoyak, infection control nurse at Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. During February, 106 children visited the emergency room with RSV-like symptoms. Sixty-four were admitted to the hospital for RSV, nearly all younger than 2 years old, Chikoyak said. By comparison, 84 children were admitted during the region's last big outbreak two years ago. But that occurred over three months. "It's shaping up to be worse this time," Chikoyak said. The hospital has seen sick babies and toddlers from about 25 villages, but the most severe cases seem to be from the coastal communities of Chevak, Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay and Quinhagak, she said. Statewide, the outlook looks better, said Greg Wilkinson, spokesman for the state health department. A recent uptick mirrors past years, he said. Cases generally rise in February and March, as the winter drags on and people huddle indoors. But a state emergency preparedness group has recently called two teleconference meetings to monitor the situation, with officials contacting hospitals to make sure they have enough specialists and resources, he said. So far, no medical centers have asked for help, he said. On a positive note, only a handful of children statewide have required breathing assistance with a ventilator, said Chikoyak, who dialed into the state's emergency meetings. As far as he knows, no one has reported a death from the virus since 1988, Wilkinson said. RSV seems to attack different regions each winter. Apparently, it's Bethel's turn.
During seven weeks starting Jan. 1, the state virology laboratory confirmed 54 cases of RSV from Anchorage, 36 from Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright, and 22 from the much-smaller Bethel. Also, seven cases came from Nome, four from Kotzebue, two from Soldotna and one each from Kodiak and Juneau, Wilkinson said. The lab-proven cases are likely a small snapshot of the caseload across Alaska. The illness is also flagged at hospitals and clinics through rapid test procedures and diagnosis of symptoms, he said. RSV can reach epidemic proportions in rural Alaska, in part because of long winters, crowded houses and, in some villages, a lack of running water that can reduce hand-washing, Chikoyak said. The sickness starts with fevers, sore throats, running noses and coughing. Adults might think they have a simple cold and don't take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading, said Chikoyak. But in babies and toddlers, symptoms can linger thanks to mucus-clogged noses they can't clear. They might develop lung infections that become life-threatening, especially if they're premature or have chronic lung conditions. Parents should visit a hospital or clinic if they're child can't breathe properly or if the cold-like symptoms don't improve after a few days, she said. In Bethel, pediatric beds at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. are filling as quickly as the hospital empties them, she said. "We have 12 today," she said on Monday, March 1. "That's down from 16 the day before." Late last week, YKHC issued a health bulletin to slow the illness. People should cover mouths when coughing; wash hands frequently, including with alcohol-based hand sanitizer for families without running water; and avoiding sharing cups and utensils with sick people.
The name of Hazard: Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV]
Species: Human
Status: Confirmed
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