Respiratory virus spread among infants overwhelms Sherbrooke hospital

Respiratory viruses and the nurse shortage are pushing medical staff in the pediatrics' department of Fleurimont Hospital to the brink. 

Dr. Sylvie Lafrenaye, a pediatrician with 20 years of experience working in intensive care, says the situation in her unit at Fleurimont Hospital is unprecedented.

"Once again, this weekend, there were six babies, less than a month old in intensive care with the help of oxygen, a tube in their throat to help them breathe," she said.

"All Quebec hospitals are overflowing with sick little babies."

Babies are suffering from respiratory viruses that arrived earlier this year, which have serious consequences for young patients, said Dr. Lafrenaye.

She says parents of infants should, for the first two months of their infant's life, avoid all contact with anyone who appears to have a cold. 

In a news release, the CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS confirmed that the virus spread had accelerated among children this year.

"With children being in contact with each other more frequently, especially due to the start of the school year and a return to childcare settings after the summer period, the spread of viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increased," the local health authority said. 

Exhausted staff

Sylvie Tanguay, assistant head nurse in pediatrics at Fleurimont Hospital, says she's worried more staff will abandon ship. 

"Lately, I would say that we're in a bit of a crisis, that's clear. [...] The boat is sinking, we compare ourselves to the Titanic, but there isn't even a violin player anymore."

On Oct. 10, she said, there weren't enough beds to accommodate patients. 

"I didn't even have nurses anymore," she said.  "Taking in patients would have been dangerous for patient safety."

Virus spreading in daycares

Viruses are spreading abundantly in daycares this year, says Johanne Levasseur, director of the CPE Jardin d'A.M.I.S. 

After comparing absence rates for the past two years, she says she noticed that in 2020, the number of absences increased around November and December. 

But this year, she says, there was a marked increase of absences in September, particularly among the youngest students. 

"What we're seeing is it's mostly children who have recently come to our organization, the youngest and the little ones, the three-year-olds," she said. 

The CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS is reminding parents to see a doctor if their child has a fever for more than 72 hours, has respiratory distress or is dehydrated.