2023-12-18 17:04:50
The bronchiolitis epidemic is not as serious as last year.
“Regarding bronchiolitis, the epidemic is not as serious as last year, points out Alice Herteau, epidemiologist at Santé Publique France Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Even if the indicators are still higher than what we experienced before the Covid period, this year’s peak seems to have passed.” Respiratory disease affects 30% of children under the age of one, or around 480,000 children each year. “But it is mostly benign. Only 2 to 3% of affected children are hospitalized, and less than 1% die. recalls Sylvie Quelet, project director within the regional health agency (ARS) in charge of the deployment of Beyfortus, the preventive drug once morest bronchiolitis.
The doctor also points out that the treatment prioritization policy implemented in New Aquitaine seems to be bearing fruit since the immunization rate observed in maternity hospitals in the region is 73.9%, well above the national average of 65. .6%.
Barrier gestures and vigilance
“In Charente, it is a little over 71%. It is a great chance to have this treatment in France. But we must also continue to raise awareness regarding barrier gestures: washing your hands when taking care of the baby, wearing a mask if you have symptoms, ventilating the room.”
Practices that health professionals also cannot recommend highly enough to protect themselves from the flu and Covid. “For the flu, we must remain vigilant because we are seeing a drop in the number of vaccinations and the epidemic has not really started yet,” alert Aurélie Fischer, consulting pharmacist at the ARS.
Hospitalizations for Covid on the rise
An opposite trend for Covid, with a number of “clusters” and hospitalizations increasing in the region. “Even if of course it has nothing to do with the phase of massive hospitalization that we experienced, reassures Alice Herteau. And we do not have any worrying health signals regarding the variants in circulation, for which the vaccines are suitable anyway.”
Aurélie Fischer, also vaccination referent at the ARS health monitoring center, recalls that vaccines once morest Covid and once morest flu can be done at the same time. “It is also possible, for those once morest Covid, to receive a dose even if you have never been vaccinated.” And with the end of year celebrations approaching and this period of great population mixing, it is also not too late to strengthen your immune system: enjoy your herbal teas and dried fruits!
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