BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A respiratory virus common around this time of year is on the rise in the Lehigh Valley, even as new preventative measures are being administered.
A shortage in one of those treatments is limiting the number of children able to get it.
Cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, are increasing and a Lehigh Valley Health Network doctor said the current picture probably underrepresents just how much RSV actually is in the community.
"It's quite a contagious respiratory-spread virus,” said Deb Carter, executive vice chairwoman for LVHN's Pediatrics Department and senior medical director for the Lehigh Valley Physician Group.
"Unfortunately, the supply of the product this year is much lower than we had hoped."Dr. Deb Carter, senior medical director, Lehigh Valley Physician Group
“It's difficult to avoid completely, but if there are people who are ill and you have a young child, especially a newborn or a young infant, it would certainly be prudent to avoid interactions with folks who are sick.”
In August, a monoclonal antibody therapy was approved for those younger than 8 months or up to 24 months if they are high risk.
Carter said the network, because it received a limited supply, only will administer the new antibody treatment to those younger than 6 months or those at high risk.
"Unfortunately, the supply of the product this year is much lower than we had hoped," she said. "So Sanofi did not project quite the demand that has been in the communities for this.
"So we've had some shipments at Lehigh Valley [but] we have been giving it to the youngest children."
Not a lot of prevention available
Carter said there is an RSV vaccine available for the first time this year to older adults and pregnant women that is in good supply.
Pregnant women can get that vaccine between 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and Carter said it can provide similar protection to the newborn as the antibody treatment.
“We are definitely encouraging pregnant moms to consider that to get that protection for their babies. That creates an immune response for the mom's body and then the mom gives those passive antibodies to the baby through the placenta."Dr. Deb Carter, senior medical director, Lehigh Valley Physician Group
“We are definitely encouraging pregnant moms to consider that to get that protection for their babies," she said. "That creates an immune response for the mom's body and then the mom gives those passive antibodies to the baby through the placenta."
Carter said that aside from the antibody treatment and the RZV vaccine for older adults, there's really not a lot of prevention measures.
She suggested people wash their hands and cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
She said if younger infants develop a cough or illness in which their baby seems to have any respiratory difficulty at all, especially belly breathing where the abdomen is coming out and the rib lines are very prominent called retractions, caretakers should definitely seek care with a pediatrician as soon as possible.
