Between weeks 41 and 42, the number of RS virus cases increased by 12 percent - corresponding to 1,006 disease cases - which is a similar increase as the previous week.

The curve thus continues to point steeply upwards, a trend that has been discernible since the end of the summer.

RS virus, an abbreviation for respiratory syncytial virus, causes inflammation in the airways and can be directly life-threatening for infants.

Although the unusually large number of cases for the season can to some extent be explained by the fact that more patients are tested, the development speaks for itself: Sweden is in an RS virus epidemic.

Infection spread of these measures normally takes place in winter with spreading peaks around February-March.

That this is happening now is due to the fact that the coronary restrictions have meant that the youngest children's immune systems during the pandemic have not been exposed to as many viruses as usual.

Therefore, they are now more receptive.

"Tone deaf"

On Monday, further relief came into force when vaccinated people and children under the age of six can return to work and preschool, respectively, despite certain remaining symptoms.

At the same time, several regions are appealing to parents to keep children with baby siblings at home from preschool - and the care is dropping the chin from FHM's advice.

- It is completely deafening to go out with that recommendation right now when we have such an extreme burden on pediatric care due to the RS epidemic.

Is there any time we really should avoid spreading the infection among preschool siblings, it is right now.

I can not understand how they could have missed it, says Malin Ryd Rinder, operations manager for pediatric emergency care at Astrid Lindgren's Hospital in Stockholm, and adds:

- 95 percent of all infants who become ill have siblings, we see almost no children who are in iva who do not have siblings.

"Timing is difficult"

Sara Byfors, unit manager at FHM, points out, however, that the spirit of previous restrictions remains.

- The basis is that sick children should remain at home.

We have not changed that.

TT: But if specialists in this type of infection and care so strongly oppose your decision, you should not have waited?

- Timing is difficult, of course, you can always wait.

But for children, preschool is an important environment.

There are different considerations, but we have come to the conclusion that we think this is a way forward, says Sara Byfors.

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Infection control about the spread of RS virus: "Keep older children home from preschool"