The annual epidemic of bronchiolitis, a dangerous disease for babies, has begun, Public Health France reported on Wednesday, October 30. Last week was marked by “Passage of Ile de France, Guadeloupe and Martinique in epidemic and Brittany in pre-epidemic”the health agency summarized in a weekly report on acute respiratory infections.
Another sign: “Syndromic indicators related to bronchiolitis were increasing in both community medicine and hospitals”but “remaining at lower levels than those observed in the three years prior to the same period”he pointed out.
Of the 1,552 children under 2 years of age treated in the emergency room with bronchiolitis between October 21 and 27, 497 were hospitalized, almost all of them babies under 1 year of age. Abroad, the epidemic has spread, knowing that Guyana has been suffering from bronchiolitis since the end of July.
Two preventive treatments
Every year during autumn and winter, bronchiolitis affects many French babies, most often following an infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can also threaten the elderly.
This season is marked by the administration of two preventive treatments, Beyfortus, from AstraZeneca and Sanofi – an antibody that is administered directly to babies -, and Abrysvo, from Pfizer – a vaccine that is administered before birth to pregnant women.
Beyfortus had already been the subject of an immunization campaign last year, and studies agree that it limited the hospitalization of babies in France and in the few countries where it was tested.
Public Health France also took stock of the evolution of the Covid-19 epidemic and seasonal flu, against which a combined vaccination campaign began in mid-October for people at risk, such as the elderly.
As for the flu, the cases detected in mainland France remain the same so far “sporadic”while Réunion has been affected by an epidemic since the end of September. The reflux of the coronavirus continues, noticeable in community medicine, in hospitals, but also in wastewater.
“In addition to vaccines and preventive treatments, the adoption of barrier gestures remains essential to protect oneself from all winter diseases: hand washing, regular ventilation of rooms, use of a mask in case of symptoms, in frequented places and in presence of vulnerable people. people”recalled Public Health France.
