Non-COVID respiratory viruses are proving to be more of a problem for children than the coronavirus itself, according to the Taoiseach.
It comes after GPs warned of a “massive rise” in viral infections, especially among younger children.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes coughs and colds and bronchiolitis in infants – and is now the most common cause of hospital admissions due to acute respiratory illness in young children.
Speaking at the newly established Munster Technological University (MTU) this morning, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said people with respiratory symptoms of any kind should not attend school.
“The real message from public health has been that RSV actually and non-COVID respiratory illnesses are more of a problem for children right now in respect of admissions to hospitals,” he said.
“So, the basic advice has been that anybody who is symptomatic in any way in terms of respiratory illnesses should not go to school. That has been consistent now over the last month to six weeks in terms of RSV and others.
“The same issue has not applied to COVID in respect of children getting severely ill or ging to hospital. It is RSV and other issues that have proved to be more problematic this year.”
Yesterday, the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the Government was considering reintroducing contact tracing for school close contacts and said he expects to see antigen tests in primary schools before Christmas.
Minister Martin said antigen testing would be used in given areas in school in line with public health advice.
Public health has been very consistent in relation to schools and advice to schools and again the matter will be kept under review.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Professor Sam McConkey from the Royal College of Surgeons said the antigen tests will only work if they are used correctly.
“If somebody is at a sleepover the previous night and uses an antigen test tomorrow, that is too early for the antigen test to show up as a positive,” he said. “They don’t pick up very low levels of virus.”
“You would really need to be testing at Day Five and Day Ten and then using those results appropriately.
“So, I worry that false-negative results, particularly early after a child has been in contact with somebody else with symptoms or with COVID, might falsely reassure the child and their parents.”
Professor McConkey said a system whereby all students are tested on a regular basis would be more effective.
