Kids asked to avoid hospital after virus detected

To help slow the spread of a respiratory virus, children age 12 and under are being asked not to visit Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for the foreseeable future. Children are most susceptible to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which can lead to acute bronchitis and pneumonia. "If a child doesn't need to be here, then they shouldn't come in," said Connie Martin, hospital spokeswoman. She added that children who do need hospital care could be givenmasks to wear for extra protection. RSV, the most common cause of lower respiratory-tract infectionsin children, is often spread by unclean hands. In addition to children, the hospital is also asking adults with a fever, cough or symptomsof upper respiratory infections not to visit, Martin said. Employees will ask visitors with those symptoms to leave. "We're trying to keep a barrier between people who are ill and patients," Martin said. The hospital will inform the public when the visitor restrictions are lifted. Martin said there are usually visitor restrictions each year, and they typically last for a matter of weeks. The virus should ease up as summer nears, she said.