Sierra View District Hospital on Monday initiated protocols to minimize the threat of a specific respiratory virus.

Visiting children under age 13 will not be permitted on any of the hospital’s inpatient units — except for the Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facility — until further notice. The restriction is aimed at minimizing patient exposure to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Ramona Contreras, spokeswoman for Sierra View, said children requiring hospitalization will continue their normal course of care.

“The restriction on visitors under 13 will be in effect for the duration of the RSV season, which can last through the winter until early spring, depending on the number of RSV cases seen,” Contreras said in a prepared release.

What is RSV?
Respiratory Syncytial (pronounced: SIN-sih-shull) Virus is a common virus that causes cold symptoms in adults and children.

Though most healthy adults and children will experience nothing more than an infection resembling a common cold, infants and children with pre-existing medical conditions can experience severe and potentially life-threatening complications from RSV.

Treatment
Though there is no known cure for viruses like the common cold and RSV, Contreras said over-the-counter medicines are proven to be temporarily effective in suppressing symptoms.

“However, you and your pediatrician are crucial partners in the well-being of your child, so if at any time you are unsure about his or her condition, please call a health care professional immediately,” Contreras said in the release.

Prevention
RSV is spread through contact, much like the common cold. An infected person sneezing or coughing can spread the virus through the air, and RSV can also survive for several hours on surfaces like a desktop, doorknob or telephone.

“The most effective way to prevent RSV is through continual and thorough hand washing,’ Contreras said in the release. “Always wash with soap and water or disinfect with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before touching your baby. Also, remember to routinely clean household surfaces to keep them as germ-free as possible. If possible, try to avoid crowded places like malls and movie theaters, where the virus can quickly spread from person to person.

“If you experience cold-like symptoms, always use a tissue when coughing or sneezing, immediately dispose of it properly, then wash your hands thoroughly to prevent spreading the virus. Finally, remember to eat healthy, exercise and get plenty of rest to help keep your immune system at full strength this holiday season.”

-- Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.