‘It can be fatal for your bub’: Health officials warn parents of rise in RSV and flu cases

Health officials are warning parents of a concerning rise in a respiratory condition that hits children the hardest.

Health officials have issued a warning to parents amid a rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

More than 118,000 Australians have reportedly been diagnosed with RSV this year, while 128,110 Australians were diagnosed in 2023, according to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard (NCDSD).

Children aged up to four reported the highest rates of diagnosis this year, with the figure sitting at 62,475.

RSV is a respiratory infection that typically affects young children, though adults can also catch it.

Symptoms range from a runny nose and cough to difficulty breathing and fever, with children under the age of one more likely to be impacted by breathing problems.

Flu numbers are ‘really skyrocketing’.

NSW has recorded the highest number of RSV cases so far this year at 55,166, followed by Queensland (26,946) and Victoria (23,240), according to the NCDSD.

South Australia has recorded 5672 cases, with SA Health issuing a warning as rates of both RSV and the flu skyrocket.

SA hospitals were packed with 122 patients presenting with the two respiratory conditions in the week leading up to Saturday, July 6, with 63 RSV cases and 59 flu cases.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said the two viruses were “always” a cause of concern.

“Our flu numbers are really skyrocketing,” she said.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said RSV and the flu were ‘always’ a cause of concern. Picture: NewsWire / David Mariuz

“They look like they will be higher than the last two years and there’s no evidence of them plateauing at the moment.

“The other virus that we are always concerned about is RSV and that’s also with an upward trajectory and, again, no sign of plateauing.”

Professor Spurrier issued a stark warning that RSV and the flu could be fatal for young children.

“When we look at the number of people hospitalised, it’s almost 50 per cent children for the flu and RSV combined … and that’s very concerning because little, tiny babies are very vulnerable,” she said.

“Kids get really sick – we have to give them oxygen, we have to give them fluids, we might have to put a drip in – and it’s very stressful for parents.

“And the worst-case scenario, unfortunately, is it can be fatal for your little bub.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park urged Australians to get their flu shots. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer.

The warning comes as flu rates soar across NSW, with more than 3400 children aged between 10 and 19 testing positive for influenza in the week ending June 29.

NSW Health data also found 3255 children aged 5 to 9 and 2389 children up to four years old had tested positive for influenza in the week ending June 29, while a staggering 14,537 children aged between 10 and 19 have tested positive for the flu so far this year.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the rise in influenza cases was contributing to increased pressure on emergency departments.

Parents are being warned to remain on top of vaccinations. Picture: NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

“Our emergency departments are under unprecedented demand … we’re seeing about a 30 per cent increase in influenza cases,” he said.

“We are starting to track towards the peak of influenza across the system.

“We’re probably about a week or so away from that, but that is putting unprecedented demand on our emergency departments.”

Mr Park urged people to get vaccinated if they hadn’t already.

Originally published as ‘It can be fatal for your bub’: Health officials warn parents of rise in RSV and flu cases