Experts’ tips to tackle potential surge in RSV

With winter on the horizon, hospitals across the UAE are preparing for a potential surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among children.

Experts emphasise that limiting the spread and impact of this virus requires coordinated efforts from families, communities, and healthcare institutions, especially to protect the most vulnerable.

Dr. Markus Knuf, head of the children’s hospital in Worms, Germany, and consultant in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Mainz, notes that RSV is one of the most common causes for hospital admissions among children worldwide.

He added that Germany’s experience proves that a combination of awareness, prevention, and early intervention can produce measurable results.

Such efforts, he said, contributed to an 80 per cent reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations compared to the previous season, demonstrating the significant impact of proactive measures and awareness on safeguarding children’s health.

In the UAE, Dr Walid Abu Hammour explains that RSV spreads easily through infected respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. Meanwhile, Dr. Eslam El Baroudy emphasised the significance of educating families and schools on daily preventative measures.

Both doctors underline that collaboration between families, communities, and healthcare institutions is essential to reduce infection risks and prevent complications.

In this context, Baptiste de Clarens, General Manager Greater Gulf, Vaccines at Sanofi, emphasised the company’s role as a key partner in the public health sector, highlighting its close collaboration with experts and health institutions across the UAE to promote preventive practices and raise awareness.

These efforts highlight how shared responsibility protects children, eases the burden on healthcare systems, and fosters community health awareness in the face of seasonal illnesses.

RSV is a common cause of respiratory hospitalisation in infants, and reinfection remains common in later life, though often with less severity.

It is a notable pathogen in all age groups.