Virus hits Western Alaska children hard

ALEX DeMARBAN

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.  

The virus infects adults and children, but hits babies and young children especially hard, leaving some sluggish victims sucking desperately for air, according to disease specialists. Symptoms often begin with high fevers, severe coughing, runny noses and wheezing.

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, said Greg Wilkinson, spokesman for the Division of Public Health.

The state called the region’s outbreak “robust” in a statement, but said the number of patients with severe illness has been low. Only one child from the Bethel region has been placed on a breathing machine, Wilkinson said.

The virus is spread through infected people or contaminated objects, the written statement said. People should wash hands for at least 30 seconds with soap and warm running water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. They should cough into sleeves or tissues, wash hands after coughing, and keep kids with flu-like symptoms at home, he said.   

State health officials are monitoring the outbreak and will ship medical supplies to Bethel and other areas if stocks run low.