North Holland is short of hospital beds as there are so many children sick with a virus, reports the NH regional broadcaster.

Some of the children will be transported to other areas in the country because – according to a survey of hospitals conducted by NH – so many children’s wards are full.

The problems have been caused by the RS virus, a variant of the common cold that affects the respiratory system, especially in children under two. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, breathlessness, diarrhoea and vomiting, and for babies under three months, the virus can be life threatening.