Your support ensures our hospitals are equipped with the latest technology to help patients breathe. But the best way to keep BC breathing is to prevent hospital visits before they happen.
That’s why we want to alert our community to the rising RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus, which causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract) cases in BC. While symptoms may be mild in healthy children and adults, RSV can cause severe infection in babies under 12 months, older adults, and those with underlying conditions.
The BC Centre for Disease Control shows pediatric illnesses has spiked this December, surpassing total cases of illness from last December.
We need to take action now – an RSV infection in a baby can be serious. It can increase their risk of developing asthma, and may increase their risk of illnesses requiring antibiotics throughout the rest of their childhood.
So what can you do to protect our most vulnerable little ones?
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Wear a mask in health care facilities (which is now required by law in BC until the end of respiratory illness season). Also consider wearing a mask when in crowded areas.
- Stay home if you’re feeling unwell.
- Don’t smoke. In addition to protecting your health, babies who are exposed to smoke have a higher risk of getting RSV and more severe symptoms.
While this is a serious issue, we can all take simple steps to make a difference. Thank you for keeping children in our province healthy!
