RSV cases surge in WA despite high vaccine uptake
Latest figures reveal 4124 cases have been reported to the Department of Health to date, up from 3299 this time last year.
'RSV notifications substantially increased in the past week in keeping with an upward trend,' the department said.
Cases are on the rise in the Goldfields, Midwest and Pilbara regions in particular.
There were another 129 hospital admissions, with an increase in child admissions in particular, bringing the yearly total so far to 881.
It's fewer than the number of admissions last year, in large part thanks to WA's free RSV immunisation program for infants. Strong uptake saw more than 500 families avoid hospital stays last winter.
More than 2000 of the current cases of the highly infectious virus are in children under five, despite more than 16,500 infants and pregnant women being immunised against the virus to date.
RSV is a common but highly contagious virus that infects the airway and lungs. It is easily spread by coughing and sneezing.
More than half of all babies will be infected with the virus before their first birthday, and in WA, one in every 30 babies are admitted to hospital with RSV each year.
Symptoms include a runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing, and a reduced appetite. It is usually mild but can cause other more serious illnesses like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
It can also increase the risk of longer-term breathing problems such as childhood asthma.
The influx of RSV comes amid a horror flu season with cases now exceeding 13,000 and set to pass the 2024 yearly total in the coming weeks.
Earlier this month, the Department of Health sent an urgent reminder to medical staff to ensure they're giving patients the right RSV immunisation after receiving 13 reports of the incorrect jab being given to West Australians between February and June.
No adverse events were reported.
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