County Health Department reports 22 residents have tested positive for virus since Jan. 23

The Flathead County Health Department issued an alert Thursday about a respiratory infection spreading through the valley called respiratory syncytial virus.

"There aren't hundreds of cases, but more than we might expect normally," said Allison Bishop, public health nurse with the county Health Department.

She said 22 people have tested positive for the virus since Jan. 23. Bishop said numbers warranted warning parents and the public to take precautions.

"This is the time when RSV peaks, anyway," she said

The infection poses a threat to infants and children as the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Symptoms begin with fever, runny nose, cough and sometimes wheezing.

According to Bishop, preterm infants with respiratory syncytial virus may exhibit symptoms of lethargy, poor feeding and losing their breath.

Because of an increase in cases, Kalispell Regional Medical Center has temporarily restricted children 2 years of age and younger from visiting the hospital.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 25 percent to 40 percent of children will show signs or symptoms of pneumonia or bronchiolitis. About .05 percent to 2 percent of these, mostly infants younger than 6 months of age, require hospitalization.

Studies have shown that nearly all children have been exposed to the virus by the time they are 2 years old. A majority of children recover in eight to 15 days.

People may suffer repeated infections throughout life. Adults with the virus exhibit moderate to severe coldlike symptoms.

Elderly people or those with compromised cardiac, pulmonary or immune systems need to take precautions as they are vulnerable to lower-respiratory-tract disease.

Bishop said people contract the virus through contact with respiratory secretions from infected people or contaminated surfaces or objects.

She urged people to practice prevention by covering the mouth when coughing, washing hands well and frequently, cleaning toys, and disinfecting surfaces touched by children's hands.

Soap, water and disinfectants inactivate the virus.

If these efforts fail to prevent infection, parents should treat children with mild disease with symptom relief such as acetaminophen to reduce fever.

A vaccine does not exist to prevent the virus, but developing one is considered a high priority by the CDC.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.