Meeting threatened by bronchiolitis epidemic that accelerates in metropolis

The health authorities shall share with a sharp rise in hospitalization of under 2 years in metropolitan France. At the meeting, spent in pre-epidemic phase last week, the situation does not get worse for the moment.

Le Monde with AFP

Previously appeared, the bronchiolitis epidemic continues in metropolitan France in infants: hospitalizations are rising sharply, and the meeting is threatened, announced on Wednesday 1 Er December the health authorities.

As for several weeks, the metropolis is marked by a “pursuit of the bronchiolitis epidemic” in all regions, summed up In its weekly newsletter The Public Health Agency France. The public health organization notes a “strong increase in emergency and hospitalization passages” for less than 2 years. The meeting has been in pre-epidemic phase since last week.

1,840 Hospitalizations last week

Overall, 5,098 children under 2 years of age were seen at the emergency room for bronchiolite last week, of which 4,577 (90%) were under 1 year and 1,840 (36%). been hospitalized. The vast majority of them, about 92% of them (1,701), was less than 1 year old.

Common and very contagious, bronchiolite causes in babies a cough and a difficult, fast and wheezing respiration. Most of the benign time, however, it may require a transition to emergencies, or even hospitalization. Last winter, controversies and barrier gestures to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 contributed to block all viruses, including VRS (Syncytial Respiratory Virus), responsible for bronchiolitis. The children were less infected than usual, their collective immunization is therefore less, which gives fear of a stronger epidemic this year.

This phenomenon could also concern other winter viruses, including those of influenza or gastroenteritis. For the time being, the seasonal flu, whose epidemic is usually spreading later in the year, remains little in France, according to Public Health France, which notes, however, an increase in cases. Overseas, at the meeting, passed in pre-epidemic phase the previous week, the situation does not get worse for the moment. Mayotte, meanwhile, remains struck by the epidemic, as it has been the case for several weeks.

/Media reports.