2024-02-25 23:04:00
Runny nose, cough, headache, endless body aches… for several days, more and more people from Reunion have been terribly ill. Medical offices are also full of patients, each sicker than the other. A pathology emerges in many sufferers, an acute respiratory infection. And yet, it is not cold – it is even the opposite – we are not even in a period of epidemic. But humidity, contacts and immunity have a lot to do with it (Photo: sly/www.imazpress.com)
All around us, a gaggle of sick people. Families, children, colleagues, parents… all present the same symptoms.
Symptoms which for some pass in a flash, while for others, it takes several days to recover.
Flu, Covid, respiratory infections… same symptoms but different pathologies.
“There are indeed a few more cases,” notes Doctor Christine Kowalzyck, president of the Regional Union of Liberal Physicians and general practitioner in Saint-André.
“There are resurgences of respiratory infections which motivate consultations,” explains Doctor Benjamin Dusang, pediatric anesthetist resuscitator and president of the Council of the Order of Physicians of Reunion Island.
Case of Covid or not, we cannot say. There are some, but “the use of tests is very low”, notes Doctor Dusang. “There are approximately 56 Reunion Islanders per 100,000 inhabitants who have deemed it necessary to take a test.”
As the president of the Regional Union of Liberal Doctors says, “if there is no real cause for a re-increase in cases of a disease, in any case for Covid, it will now be part of our lives “.
– Rise in cases… but no epidemic in sight –
If an increase in consultations is noted for respiratory infections, there is no epidemic alert.
According to the latest data from Public Health France, “in the city we observe an increase in the share of activity for acute respiratory infections”. Please note that Covid-19, influenza and bronchiolitis are contagious acute respiratory infections of viral origin.
In community medicine, despite a drop in the share of activity in Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), it remained at a high level with 5.1% of total activity. The share of activity for IRA was above the 2013-2023 average.
In week 7, “the number of visits to the emergency room for reasons of influenza syndrome was slightly increasing. The emergency services recorded 27 visits for reasons of influenza syndrome in S07 compared to 21 the previous week”, indicates Public Health France.
Passages do not necessarily lead to hospitalizations. The number of hospitalizations for influenza-like illness was decreasing.
Concerning Covid, “viral circulation is stable and low”. “In week 7, the positivity rate was stable at 9% compared to 8% the previous week.” That being the figures in relation to the numbers of people tested, but as Dr Dusang previously pointed out, “the uptake of tests is very low”.
“Many patients who, even with Covid or flu type symptoms, no longer get tested to find out if they are positive or not. For them it has become an illness like any other,” a doctor told Imaz Press city.
However, if viral circulation remains stable in all age groups, “among 45-64 year olds and those over 75, it is increasing”, indicates the epidemiological bulletin.
– Isolate yourself… once more –
To prevent viruses from spreading, there is nothing better than resuming good old habits from the Covid period.
“Go see your doctor, and followingwards, like any flu, Covid or respiratory infection, isolate yourself as much as possible and wear a mask for the first four or five days,” recommends Christine Kowalzyck.
Faced with viral infections, there are simple actions to protect yourself and those around you: barrier gestures.
– Wear a mask as soon as symptoms appear (cough, cold, fever, sore throat) in busy places (e.g. public transport) and in the presence of vulnerable people, even in the absence of symptoms;
– Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with a hydro-alcoholic solution;
– Ventilate your home regularly;
– Sneeze into your elbow (rather than your hands);
– Use a single-use tissue.
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