RSV Gold Coast: Warning as Covid-like virus spreads

A northern Gold Coast mum is urging people to be on alert for a virus spreading through the community, only it’s not Covid. HER WARNING

A Gold Coast mum is urging people to be on alert for a virus spreading through the community that “presents pretty much the same as Covid”.

She feared cases of the potentially deadly virus were getting missed as Covid-19 rips through the state.

Bec McIntosh of Upper Coomera fell sick on December 16 with symptoms that “matched every publicised symptom of Covid” including loss of taste and smell.

Her baby became sick on December 23, followed by her four-year-old on Boxing Day.

Ms McIntosh said her family continued to test negative for Covid, but couldn’t get in to see a doctor because of their Covid-like symptoms.

“No doctor would see us with respiratory symptoms,” she said.

“We tried to get tested over the next couple of days but were turned away with huge lines and no online bookings were available due to public holidays.

“I travelled to Slacks Creek for the first book appointment I could get. When I explained the history to the doctor he decided to do a respiratory panel, not just a Covid test.”

The next day, Ms McIntosh’s family tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and negative for Covid.

RSV is a respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

While most people recover in a week or two, it can be dangerous for infants and older people.

Symptoms of RSV infection usually include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing.

Bec McIntosh of Upper Coomera with her baby. Picture: supplied

Gold Coast University Hospital director of emergency medicine Dr David Green said hospitals and doctors were no longer doing routine respiratory panels for testing due Covid.

Therefore, it was difficult to pinpoint how many cases of RSV were in the community.

“At the moment, testing is centring on identifying all of the Covid patients because of the extra precautions,” Dr Green said.

Gold Coast GP Dr Sonu Haikerwal said Covid cases had “overwhelmed the system”.

“We haven’t had the opportunity to do respiratory viral testing,” she said.

“There is so much Covid, it is quite overwhelming.

“People are really scrambling to get a proper assessment and testing.”

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