2024-01-03 16:40:43
“In New Aquitaine, we have observed for two to three weeks a sudden increase in the activity for acute gastroenteritis of SOS doctors and hospital emergencies”, poses Laurent Filleul, epidemiologist at Santé Publique France, at the microphone of France Bleu this Wednesday. During the week between Christmas and New Year, gastro caused 11% of SOS doctor consultations and 2.7% of emergency room visits. Proportions which have doubled at once compared to the previous week.
While the presence of norovirus in oysters from the Arcachon Basin has led the health authorities to ban their sale and consumption a few days before the New Year, we can reasonably make the link with this sudden peak of gastro. “Not everyone does tests. But doctors question families. And what comes out are a lot of gastroenteritis linked to the consumption of oysters”, confirms Laurent Filleul.
The evolution of the share of activity for food poisoning. – Public Health France
Especially since “the weather conditions were very unfavorable. After heavy rains, we can have an overflow of wastewater and leaching, which leads to contamination of the shellfish,” underlines the epidemiologist.
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A peak comparable to that of 2021-2022
But this is not the only factor that explains this gastro spike: “We have both a consumption of contaminated food, and a viral influx”, tempers Laurent Filleul. Because there are gastrointestinal peaks every year, and some are stronger than others. “This is higher than previous years, but lower than 2019, where the peak was significant,” puts the epidemiologist into perspective. The peak of emergency activity linked to acute gastroenteritis “is nevertheless close to that observed during the 2021-2022 season at the same period”, adds Santé Publique France.
The evolution of acute gastroenteritis in New Aquitaine. – Public Health France
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