For the week of October 28 to November 4, epidemiological data indicate an increase in cases of bronchiolitis, both in community medicine and in hospitals. However, the indicators remain lower than those of the previous three years for the same period. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased vigilance regarding the risks associated with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), responsible for bronchiolitis, particularly dangerous for infants, but also for the elderly.
A worrying situation overseas
Overseas, the departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique have been facing the epidemic since the end of October, while Guyana has recorded cases since the end of July. RSV strikes many French infants each year, between October and March, with a notable increase in hospitalizations during the winter.
Impact on young children
From October 28 to November 3, 1,740 children under the age of two were hospitalized for bronchiolitis, of which 542 required hospitalization, mainly infants under the age of one. This number represents a significant increase compared to the previous week, reflecting an intensification of the epidemic in early fall.
An expanding preventive arsenal
Faced with this situation, two new preventive treatments have been deployed this season to limit hospitalizations. Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi, is administered directly to infants to protect them against RSV. This treatment has already shown its effectiveness during the immunization campaign of the previous year, allowing a notable reduction in hospitalizations in the countries where it was used.
Additionally, Abrysvo, a vaccine developed by Pfizer, is now given to pregnant women before birth, to protect their babies. These two approaches underline the importance of a reinforced prevention system to combat the bronchiolitis epidemic, which remains a major health threat every winter.
Status report on other seasonal infections
At the same time, Public Health France has also drawn up an inventory of seasonal flu and Covid-19. A combined vaccination campaign against these two viruses was launched in mid-October, targeting people at risk, but also their loved ones and health professionals.
The flu still remains at a sporadic stage in mainland France, while Reunion has recorded an ongoing epidemic since the end of September. For Covid-19, the situation seems to be stabilizing, with a continued decline in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. As of November 3, Covid-related deaths represented 2.9% of total deaths, compared to 3.3% the previous week.
