§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what preventive measures are being taken by NHS trusts to prevent respiratory syncytial virus; [143683]
(2) how many paediatric wards have been closed due to respiratory syncytial virus infection in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS trust; [143684]
(3) how many babies contracted respiratory syncytial virus while in each NHS hospital trust in the last 12 months; [143685]
(4) how many cases of respiratory syncytial virus have been admitted to each NHS trust in 2003. [143686]
§ Dr. LadymanPalivizumab, a monoclonal antibody, is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) requiring hospitalisation in children born at 35 weeks gestation or less, and who are less than six months old at the onset of the RSV season, or in children less than two years old who have received treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia within the last six months. The use of Palivizumab is a matter for clinical judgment.
Information on the number of wards closed to new admissions owing to RSV, and RSV infections contracted while in each national health service (NHS) hospital trust, is not collected centrally. Information on the number of cases of RSV admitted to each national health service trust in 2003 has been placed in the Library.