The bronchiolitis epidemic is, like last year, particularly early. Disease surveillance indicators continue to deteriorate in France, with regard to children under two years of age. This week, eight new regions of the country entered the epidemic phase.
According to data from Public Health France published on Wednesday, it is theAuvergne-Rhône-Alpesof the Burgundy-Franche-Comtéof the Brittanyof Centre-Loire Valleyof Largeyou, of the Guianaof the Normandy and the Loire country. These regions thus join Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, Occitanie and New Aquitaine, which have already been in the epidemic phase for a week.
The epidemic is also looming in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Mayotte, which enters the pre-epidemic phase on Wednesday.
The importance of barrier gestures
Given the situation, Public Health France fears pressure on pediatric services in the coming weeks. In the last seven days, 2,959 children under the age of two have been admitted to the emergency room for bronchiolitis. 93% of them were less than a year old, according to the public health agency.
The disease especially affects young children, since of the 973 hospitalized children, 96% were less than one year old.
Health authorities highlight the importance of barrier gestures to limit the spread of bronchiolitis. For example: wash your hands before and after taking care of the baby, ventilate the rooms or wear a mask in case of symptoms of winter illness.
For children under two months, it is also advisable to limit visits and not take the baby to crowded and confined public places.
Source: BFM TV
