Yellowknife (Jan 11/07) - Infants from Nunavut, sick with a virus that affects their breathing, are filling Stanton Territorial Hospital's pediatrics unit.

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

The babies are sick with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which usually causes cold-like symptoms in adults and children.

But in the most severe cases, it can cause swelling in a child's nose, throat and lungs, making it difficult for the child to breathe. They then require monitoring and oxygen support at a hospital, said Young.

Infants at high risk, who were born premature or have heart or lung diseases, may be treated with an antibody.

Young said that typically the infants are in the hospital from four days to a full week for observation and assistance with breathing, and attention is paid to how well they're feeding.

"We watch carefully to make sure they don't require specialized care," he said.

He said the more severe cases of RSV are in isolation or being kept together in the same room.

The NWT's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrew Corriveau said the virus is considered serious due to the fact that it can be so severe.

"It can be fatal," he said.

However, Young said that over the years he has been at Stanton, no children have died from RSV. The virus can be diagnosed through a mucus test.

Young said the number of patients in the unit has been shifting.

"It's actually a moving target," he said. "In the past weeks we've been close to (20 beds) or over that."

Sylvia Haener, chief executive officer of Stanton, said a couple of patients had been referred to Edmonton.

The virus typically breaks out in small communities. Young said that, like any virus, frequent hand washing helps prevent it from spreading.

"Hand washing is very important, especially in households with young infants," he said.

He also said breastfeeding seems to help prevent the more serious effects of RSV.