More people in the Netherlands have the RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). This virus mainly occurs during the winter months. Most adults only get a cold. But especially babies younger than 1 year can become very ill. Some hospitals are already admitting young children with RSV. The RIVM is asking doctors to be alert to babies and young children with complaints.
Every week, laboratories in the Netherlands report to the RIVM which viruses they are seeing. In recent weeks, the number of RS respiratory syncytial (respiratory syncytial) infections has increased. People are also visiting their general practitioners with RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). And a portion of the participants in Infectieradar with respiratory complaints also turns out to have RSV.
Alert to Complaints
The most common complaints of RSV are a runny nose and coughing. Most patients recover within a week. However, babies and young children can sometimes become short of breath and develop pneumonia. About 1 in 100 sick babies ends up in the hospital, and 1 in 1000 in intensive care. Older adults can also become very ill from RSV. The RIVM asks doctors to be alert to RSV infections so that people receive the right care in time.
Parents of young children are also advised to be alert to complaints in their baby. Consult with your general practitioner if a baby younger than 3 months has a fever or if the baby is not feeding well. Immediately contact your general practitioner if your child has rapid or wheezing breathing or briefly stops breathing. Also, call immediately if your baby becomes drowsy. Thuisarts.nl (external link) provides more information on this.
Advice Regarding Pregnancy and Birth
In addition to general advice to limit the spread of respiratory infections, the following applies:
- Avoid contact with people who are coughing or have a runny nose if you are heavily pregnant.
- Keep your baby away from people who are coughing or have a runny nose.
- Only allow visits from people who are not coughing or have a runny nose.
- Only visit new parents and their baby if you are not coughing or have a runny nose.
RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Shot
Babies can be protected against RSV with an RSV shot. The Health Council has advised to offer this RSV shot free of charge to all babies in the Netherlands in their first year of life. The Secretary of State for Health, Welfare and Sport has adopted this advice. The aim is to include the shot in the National Vaccination Program (external link) starting in the autumn of 2025. The RSV shot is currently not available in the Netherlands.
There is also a vaccination for pregnant women. This is available in the Netherlands. Pregnant women who are due to give birth before March 2025 may consider getting a shot. The RSV season usually lasts from November to March. The shot protects the baby from birth until about 6 months afterward against RSV. Pregnant women must pay for this shot themselves. For this vaccination, contact your general practitioner or GGD Municipal Health Service (Municipal Health Service).