Health authorities in France warned this Wednesday of an increase in invasive infections from group A streptococci, which have already killed two children and an adult, while in the UK an outbreak of the bacteria has already claimed nine lives.
In a statement, the French Society of Emergency Medicine (SFMU) said infections have been diagnosed “in a higher number than normal” over the past 15 days.
A total of eight children without risk factors for these infections had to be hospitalized, two of whom died. One of the three hospitalized patients died🇧🇷
The cases occurred in different regions of the southern half of the country (Occitanie, New Aquitaine and Auvergne-Rhône-Alps) and are not linked.
According to the SFMU statement, which cites research from the National Public Health Agency, infections with this bacteria are also not due to the emergence of a more virulent strain, but rather an “unusual increase in the number of cases associated with various tribes”.
This translates into an “intensification of serious illnesses and deaths,” so the SFMU asked health professionals to increase vigilance.
Group A streptococcal bacteria can cause diseases of varying degrees of severity, tonsillitis, scarlet fever and pneumonia, among others🇧🇷
At the same time, the French public health agency indicated today that the number of flu cases continues to rise and that nine of the 13 regions of metropolitan France are already in an epidemic situation (the remaining four remain in a pre-epidemic state).
In its latest flu data bulletin, it also warns of a “sharp increase” in hospital admissions, especially among the population over 65 years old.
For example, between November 28 and December 4, there was a 94% increase in emergency room visits due to flu cases (3,352 in total) compared to the previous week. In terms of hospital admissions (291), the increase was 112%. Most of the circulation is attributed to the A(H3N2) virus.
On a more positive note, French health authorities have confirmed a “trend towards stabilisation” of severe cases of bronchiolitis, a disease that this fall reached unprecedented levels in France over the past decade.
However, between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4, this type of respiratory infection — which affects the bronchi and bronchioles, especially in infants — still accounted for half of the hospitalizations of children under two years old who went through the emergency room.
Equally worrying is the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, which, although not yet the start of a new wave, has reignited the debate over the use of masks and the need to speed up vaccination.
On Tuesday, 105,516 new cases were registered in the country, which is an increase of 14.9% from the previous week.
The incidence as of December 3 (latest available data) was 573.2 cases per 100,000 population, with a progression of 27.1% in a one-week period.
Source: DN
