The number of young children hospitalised due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has nearly halved compared to the previous year.
The main reason appears to be the new preventative medication Beyfortus, according to reports from Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Gazet van Antwerpen, and Het Belang van Limburg on Monday. The drug has been widely reimbursed since last year.
RSV is one of the most common causes of respiratory infections in young children, particularly those under one. Symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath. It can cause complications such as pneumonia and ear infections.
Between October and December 2024, 977 children under four years old were admitted to Belgian hospitals with RSV. During the same period in 2023, 1,707 children were hospitalised, marking a 42% decrease.
Hospital admissions for infants under one with RSV decreased by 50%.
