Substantial decrease in cases of bronchiolitis and influenza

AA / Paris / Ümit Dönmez

The flu epidemic continued to slow down last week throughout France, while that of bronchiolitis, which mainly concerns infants, continued, but with hospitalizations which are in sharp decline, for the fifth week. in a row.

– Bronchiolitis: 41% drop in emergency room visits

In a press release, Santé Publique France reported that the number of emergency visits for cases of bronchiolitis fell by 41% in the first week of 2023 (S01).

Thus, the emergencies recorded 2221 passages for cases of bronchiolitis in children under two years old during the week of January 2 to 8, according to the public health agency. Of these 2,221 visits to the emergency room, 897 resulted in hospitalization, a decrease of 36% compared to the previous week.

The “medical acts” of SOS Médecins concerning bronchiolitis also experienced a drop, of 34%, at the national level.

Thus, Île-de-France and Normandy have moved into the post-epidemic phase while the other regions are still in the epidemic phase, according to Santé Publique France.

– Influenza: – 53% hospitalizations

The number of emergency visits for flu-like illness was 6,699 during the first week of the year, down 53% compared to the previous week, according to Public Health France.

The number of hospitalizations following going to the emergency room for flu syndrome was 1,392, also experiencing a decline of 53% compared to the previous week.

The incidence rate of consultations for flu-like illness was 215 per 100,000 inhabitants, with a decline of 9% on a weekly basis.

In sum, Public Health France reports a decrease in all influenza indicators in all age groups and in all metropolitan areas, nevertheless signaling a still active circulation of influenza viruses as well as a possible recovery. rising in the coming weeks.

– Deaths caused by influenza

The health agency also describes a high share among 15-44 year olds of deaths caused by the flu.

“Since week 40-2022, among the 66,900 deaths declared in mainland France by electronic death certificate, 776 (1.2%) were declared with a mention of influenza as a morbid condition having directly caused or contributed to the death, including 263 in S52 and 220 in the first week of 2023 (S01). Of these 776 patients who died, 8 were under the age of 15, 91 were between 15 and 64 years old and 677 were 65 years old or older,” according to Public Health. France.

In addition, 58 deaths concerned residents in nursing homes. In S01, the proportion of influenza among all electronically certified deaths was 3.9% for all ages, higher among 15-64 year olds (5.4%) than among those aged 65 or over (4. 0%) and those under 15 (2.4%). The cumulative share of influenza deaths among electronic certification deaths since S40-2022 was 1.2%.

Since the fall of 2022, hospitals, already under strain and understaffed, have been facing a triple epidemic of bronchiolitis, influenza and Covid-19.

Santé Publique France also reported a 47% drop in new Covid-19 cases since the start of the year.


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