Three new cases of chikungunya have been reported, 2 of which are linked to the Hermitage outbreak which now has 5 cases. The third is an isolated case, located at Etang Salé. On the flu side, since the start of the epidemic, 6 people have been admitted to intensive care. Emergency department visits for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old were stable, while emergency department visits for all ages for gastroenteritis were increasing. We publish the press release below (Illustrative photo www.imazpress.com)
• Chikungunya
The ARS vector control services have deployed their management measures. Between August 23 and November 7, 14 confirmed cases of indigenous chikungunya were reported in Reunion.
All these cases, PCR+, were confirmed by the associated CNR of Arboviruses-CHU La Réunion. To date, 2 sources of transmission exist: one with 7 cases in Boucan Canot (les Aigrettes) and the other with 5 cases at Ermitage. An isolated case was also reported in Saint Gilles les Bains a few weeks ago. For the first time, a case was reported away from the Saint Gilles les Bains sector, this case is located in Etang Salé (south of the island).
The latest recent cases call for the greatest vigilance because they occur at a distance in time from previous cases (undetected circulation) and for one case at a geographical distance.
In this context of indigenous circulation of chikungunya, medical personnel are invited to prescribe as quickly as possible after the onset of symptoms a biological analysis allowing the confirmation or denial of the diagnosis in any patient who presents a flu-like syndrome with joint pain. Only PCR (to be carried out until D7) allows rapid confirmation diagnosis.
• Acute respiratory infection and influenza viruses
Visits to the emergency room due to influenza-like illness remained stable in W44. In S44, emergencies totaled 50 visits for this reason versus 49 in S43. Conversely, the number of hospitalizations decreased with 3 hospitalizations in W44 versus 11 the previous week.
Since the start of the epidemic, 6 people have been admitted to intensive care with a confirmed diagnosis of influenza. Serious cases all presented at least one risk factor.
The share of emergency activity for influenza-related illness remained stable and represented 1.2% of total activity as in the previous week.
In community medicine, Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) decreased moderately with a 3.7% share of activity versus 4.2% in W43. The share of activity for IRA was above the 2013-2023 average.
• Bronchiolitis (in children under 2 years old)
Emergency department visits for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old were stable in week 44 compared to the previous week. In W44, 42 children aged under 2 years consulted the emergency room for bronchiolitis compared to 40 in W43. They were almost all under 1 year old (41/42).
New hospitalizations were also stable (n=17) as the previous week (n=17). The share of visits to the emergency room for bronchiolitis among all visits of children under 2 years old remained stable at 11.7%. of activity in H44 compared to 11.4% for H43.
• Acute gastroenteritis (AGE)
In W44, visits to emergency rooms of all ages for reasons of gastroenteritis were on the rise. The number of passages was 114 in S44 versus 92 in S43. The number of hospitalizations, however, was down moderately with 13 hospitalizations in W44 compared to 16 in W43.
Among children under 5 years old, visits to the emergency room for reasons of gastroenteritis were also on the rise. Approximately 44 passages for reasons of gastroenteritis were recorded in S44 versus 38 passages in S43. Hospitalizations after a visit to the emergency room were stable with 4 hospitalizations in W44 versus 7 in W43.
In W44, the share of emergency activity among those under 5 for gastroenteritis was increasing compared to the previous week (7.7% in W44 vs 6.6% in W43).
• Covid-19
In W44, emergency room consultations for COVDI-19 reasons remained stable at a very low level. In W44, 5 patients consulted the emergency room for reasons of COVID-19 versus 6 patients the previous week. Hospitalizations remained stable with one new hospitalization for COVID-19 in W44 as in W43.
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News from Reunion Island, Health, chikungunya
