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RSV alarm in Vienna: first cases of the season discovered!
The RSV season in Austria starts late, with the first cases in Vienna. The article illuminates risks for infants and new vaccination measures.
RSV alarm in Vienna: first cases of the season discovered!
In Austria, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spreads, which has worrying effects on the health of toddlers. The first cases of this season were recently recorded by the Sentine System of the Center for Virology of the Med-University in Vienna, as Virologist Judith Aberle reported on Bluesky. An estimated 54,600 children fall ill annually to RSV, and around 1,100 have to be hospitalized, with infants particularly often affected. About 50 percent of the children affected are less than three months old, which underlines the seriousness of this viral infection.
Dangerous bronchiolitis and risks
The dangers of the RSV are significant, in particular the dreaded bronchiolitis, which can lead to the smallest respiratory tract. According to the pediatrician Peter Voitl, a certain number of deaths are experienced every year due to RSV infections. Alarming statistics show that about 1.2 percent of the hospitalized premature babies, 5.2 percent of children with a congenital heart defect and 4.1 percent of children with certain chronic lung diseases die from viral infection. These numbers illustrate the urgency to take suitable protective measures.
In response to the growing RSV cases, vaccines for seniors and pregnant women have been available since autumn 2023 who offer indirect protection for newborns. Pregnant women can transfer protective antibodies to their baby. From mid-December, RSV prophylaxis Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) will also be available in Austria, which is to be offered free of charge for all children born in winter. This prophylactic measure should help reduce the risk of severe courses in RSV infections.
In addition, research shows that 97 percent of children will fall ill in the first two years of life to RSV. Studies indicate that previous RSV infections can increase the risk of asthma in childhood. A current investigation has shown relationships between RSV infections and later respiratory diseases, which further emphasizes the importance of vaccination measures and prophylaxis.