It's not newDespite a winter surge that's swamped hospitals, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isn't at all new to New Zealand. In fact, it's so common that most children have been infected with the virus by age 2. In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, less activity and breathing difficulties – but the virus can also cause serious illness, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It may have come from AustraliaWhile there were sporadic cases previously, Huang said the increase of national RSV cases came shortly after New Zealand re-opened the borders with Australia in late-April. But it can't help cure or treat children already suffering from serious RSV, and it can't prevent infection.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 08, 2021 02:37 UTC