The bronchiolitis epidemic and that of the flu are tending to decrease in France, according to the latest weekly report from Public Health France. The first week of January was marked by a “sharp decrease in surveillance indicators for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age”, according to this bulletin published on Wednesday, while the flu stabilizes and shows encouraging signals.
The agency notes in particular the “end of the bronchiolitis epidemic in Île-de-France” and the “passage to the post-epidemic phase in Hauts-de-France and Normandy”. Martinique has gone into the epidemic phase. Common and highly contagious, bronchiolitis causes babies to cough and have labored, rapid, wheezing breathing. Most of the time benign, it may however require a visit to the emergency room, or even hospitalization.
More incidence but fewer visits to the emergency room
Last winter, confinements and anti-Covid barrier gestures helped block all viruses, including influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), responsible for bronchiolitis. Fearing the emergence of a triple epidemic (influenza, Covid-19 and bronchiolitis) which would increase the pressure on hospital services, specialists have made numerous calls for vigilance this fall and winter.
For its part, the flu is also showing signs of calm. Thus, the indicators of influenza activity in community medicine have stabilized. And if the incidence rate of consultations for influenza-like illness per 100,000 inhabitants increases (+ 26% in one week), the number of visits to the emergency room for influenza-like illness decreases (-32%).
Flu vaccination extended until end of February
On Tuesday, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) announced that the flu vaccination campaign, which began in October and was due to end at the end of January, was extended until February 28. Because the occurrence of an influenza epidemic concomitantly with the 5th wave of Covid-19 “could have a major impact on the supply of care, in particular the hospital, and including in pediatric intensive care”, recalls the DGS.
“After almost three months of a dynamic campaign thanks to the mobilization of all, nearly 12 million people have been vaccinated against the flu”, she continues, adding that “there is still a significant margin of progress to limit the impact of the influenza epidemic.
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