9 children in Gjoa Haven diagnosed with respiratory virus
Kids at high risk encouraged to get palivizumab antibodies across Nunavut
An increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus in Gjoa Haven has the territory’s Health Department advising that medication is available. (File photo)
Gjoa Haven residents are being advised of an increase in respiratory syncytial virus cases in the community.
Nine children there have confirmed RSV infections, said Nunavut Health Department spokesperson Danarae Sommerville in a news release Friday.
RSV causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract, and is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract illness in young children worldwide, according to Health Canada.
Palivizumab — a medication that contains antibodies and is administered through injection — is available throughout Nunavut, Sommerville said.
To ensure children have the best possible protection against severe illness due to RSV, it is recommended the following groups receive palivizumab:
- Premature infants born at 35 weeks or less and who are six months old or younger;
- Children under 12 months who have chronic lung disease (CLD) of prematurity and who require ongoing supplemental oxygen and/or medical therapy such as diuretics, bronchodilators, or steroids;
- Children under 12 months who have hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease requiring supplemental oxygen and/or ongoing medical therapy such as diuretics, bronchodilators, or steroids;
- Children under 24 months who have bronchopulmonary dysplasia/CLD requiring ongoing supplemental oxygen or who were weaned off supplemental oxygen in the past three months;
- Children under 24 months with immunodeficiencies, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, upper airway obstruction, or chronic pulmonary disease other than CLD only if they are on home oxygen, have prolonged hospitalization for severe pulmonary disease, or are severely immunocompromised.
Infants in Nunavut are considered to be at a high risk for RSV infections. In December 2021, babies in Nunavut were given palivizumab one month earlier than usual due to cases of the virus rising around the world.
Somerville said Nunavummiut can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by keeping surfaces clean, wearing a mask, physical distancing, staying home when sick, washing hands often and coughing and sneezing into their elbows.
With 11 communities health centre shut down for the summer, this doesn’t look good.
I live in Sanikiluaq where the road is all dusty with many kids playing outside.
Our local Hamlet only depends on rain to do the work but the problem is, it drys up fast and get all dusty again. Most people here get sick from the dust mainly children, when they get really sick we mostly depend on nurses for help, but must be tiring to be a nurse who dedicate their life and help others.
I just hope hamlet of Sanikiluaq will wake up and do something about the roads.
They do something about the dusty road, that’s the main problem for respiratory infection.
Wonder how they get RSV in winter time if it is caused by dusty roads……They get it from other people ie droplets from coughing and sneezing.
I agree with you, along with smoking mothers when expecting, and most smoke in their porches, where when one opens the door will only allow the smoke from the cigarette to creep inside.