Iqaluit (Jan 15/07) - The pediatric ward at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife has been packed with children from the Kitikmeot lately.

Last week, 21 youngsters age three or under were medevaced from Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a virus that causes bronchiolitis.

How can I tell if my child has RSV? Your child may have one or more of the following symptoms: very runny nose stuffed-up nose cough breathing is rapid or difficult wheezing fever no interest in food or play When should I get medical help? You should call a doctor or nurse if your child: has difficult or rapid breathing has a fever of 38 C (101 F) or higher can't sleep or drink because of congestion seems to be getting worse in any way - Source: Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services

"Virtually the entire pediatrics ward is from Nunavut," said Dr. Michael Young of the pediatrics unit at Stanton.

In older children and adults, RSV appears in the form of flu and cold symptoms. In very young children, it is worse.

"The ones we send out are the ones who need oxygen support or constant observation," said Sheila Thompson, acting assistant director for clinical outreach in the Kitikmeot.

The year-old health centre in Cambridge Bay isn't running at full capacity yet.

"Our in-patient ward isn't open yet. In the future, possibly. Smaller babies sometimes need a ventilator, and they would still be medevaced," said Thompson. "Our weather has not been helping us. We knew there was a three-day blizzard coming, so we sent them out early."

The timing of the outbreak made the virus spread quickly.

"This year, it came just before the holidays. People are together and it was easily spread," said Thompson.

The virus happens every year, but not at the same time. An outbreak in Kugaaruk from June to August resulted in many flights to Yellowknife.

An outbreak in Baker Lake in early December resulted in 150 flu-like cases being reported.

Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk should have their youngest community members home soon. As of Jan. 12, they had gone 24 hours without a medevac for RSV.

Patients in Yellowknife will stay there for 48 hours following their discharge, just to make sure symptoms do not return.

"They've been fantastic in Yellowknife, at the hospital and at the boarding home. So have the nurses at our health centres, this is a lot of work for them," said Thompson.

- with files from Jessica Klinkenberg