Yukon Kuskokwim Bethel babies alert

19 Tuesday Feb 2008

Posted by mpb in preparedness, sanitation, schoolchildren, Updates

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Once again, babies are sick, but this time in the YK Delta. Inflammation can lead to scarring of lungs; high fevers can stop children’s bone and tooth growth for a short while; other infections may take advantage of weaknesses.

Give germs the boot, not our babies: unwashed hands make everyone sick (see comments and post)

[revised 1] and not just for babies–

Virus that struck Our Island Home no longer concern
Nantucket Independent, USA –
10, four of the home’s residents, aged 71 to 96, are believed to have succumbed to respiratory syncytial virus, a virus so common most children have been […] http://www.nantucketindependent.com/news/2008/0220/Other_news/007.html

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Virus hits Western Alaska children hard, ALEX DeMARBAN, Tundra Drums
February 19, 2008 at 4:55PM AKST

State health officials are warning Alaskans to scrub hands frequently to help stem a nasty respiratory illness that’s walloping children in Western Alaska.

Health-care providers said they believe more than 82 children have contracted respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta since Jan. 1. At least 47 children have been hospitalized, according to a written statement from the state Department of Health and Social Services.
…
More than one-fourth of RSV-infected infants and young children develop bronchial inflammation or pneumonia, according to physicians. Recoveries may take two weeks or more.

The Bethel-region hospital, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp., has flown some children to Anchorage hospitals because beds overflowed with sick youngsters […]

http://thetundradrums.com/news/show/1499

[revised 2] At http://aprn.org/2008/02/20/y-k-virus-targets-infants/ you can hear that this year’s RSV is the worst since 1995 (presumably number of cases) and that RSV in our region is not seasonal but nearly a year-round infection. There hasn’t been any mention of the implication of lack of local hospital beds for pandemics or serious epidemics such as seasonal influenza.

It is difficult to change one’s habits but it can be done. See these posts and comments for further references and suggestions

Site Search Tags: RSV, pneumonia, bronchitis, hands, handwashing, respiratory, bed+capacity, YKHC, Yukon, Kuskokwim, Tundra+Drums, seasonal, babies, infants, virus, APRN.org, preparedness

3 thoughts on “Yukon Kuskokwim Bethel babies alert”

Pam said:

2008 February 19 at 8:11 pm

The other point to ponder in the news article was evident lack of beds for treating infants. If we had a pandemic, with many more casualties, where/how would we treat patients needing hospital care?

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courtney and tim said:

2008 March 5 at 6:35 am

hey we think that is really sad and depressing. i cant look at another child in the same ever again. maybe people should just be more careful about where they take there kids. i feel bad for the kids. thanks,

courtney and tim

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Pam said:

2008 March 11 at 7:39 pm

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: An Important Cause of Acute Respiratory
Illness Among Young Adults Undergoing Military Training

Military recruits in training are vulnerable to acute respiratory
disease. This study documents adenovirus and RSV as important causes of
acute respiratory illness among Royal Navy trainees.
Influenza Resp Viruses 2008

Abstract

Background: Military recruits receiving training are vulnerable to acute respiratory disease and a significant proportion of illness is caused by unidentified pathogens. While some countries use surveillance programmes to monitor such illness, few data exist for recruits of the British Armed Forces.
Objectives: Through active surveillance of approximately 1000 Royal Navy trainees during 2001, we sought to describe and determine the aetiology of acute respiratory illness.
Methods: Standard viral culture was used together with serology and a novel highly sensitive real-time PCR and molecular beacon probe assay for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detection.
Results: Among 54 Royal Navy recruits with respiratory symptoms adenovirus was identified in 35%, influenza viruses in 19% and RSV in 14%. All recruits were absent from training for almost a week, most of whom were confined to the sickbay.
Conclusions: This study is the first to document adenovirus and RSV as important causes of acute respiratory illness among Royal Navy trainees. The study findings demonstrate the clinical significance and challenges of diagnosing RSV infection in young adults.

http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBiZ20LfhuS0Dyr0JHXU0E5

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