Measles, whooping cough, syphilis, tuberculosis… We thought these diseases were relegated to the past. But they are resurfacing with sometimes worrying incidence, thanks to a lack of vaccination or insufficient prevention.
Whooping cough. With nearly 6,000 cases recorded in the first five months of the year, five times more than in 2023, this respiratory infection caused by bacteria is making a comeback in France.
Measles. The number of cases is exploding. In 2023, 117 (including 31 imported) were declared in France, compared to 15 in 2022. Very contagious, this viral disease is often benign. But it can cause serious respiratory and neurological complications in babies. These are sometimes fatal.
Tuberculosis. Although it remains at a low level, this bacterial infection saw a rebound in cases in France in 2023 after three years of health crisis, with 4,728 cases declared. Transmitted by air, tuberculosis, which is very contagious, most often affects the lungs, but can spread to the brain.
Syphilis. Long relegated to the background of public policies, since the HIV epidemic, this sexually transmitted infection, from which Baudelaire, François 1is or Guy de Maupassant, saw its incidence jump by 110% between 2020 and 2022.
Diseases that “never really” went away
These diseases have not “never really” disappeared, but “they have transformed, spaced out over time”explains Mikael Askil Guedj, doctor and surgeon, author of the book Doctors in spite of yourself, portraits of 21st century diseases (Grasset). “This is the genius of epidemics: there are cycles of a few years, sometimes a few decades, where diseases are forgotten, mutate a little, then reappear without warning. »
These diseases “have always been latent”also notes microbiologist Philippe Sansonetti, professor emeritus at the Institut Pasteur and the Collège de France. “We saw syphilis flare up with AIDS and then fall back at the same time as preventive measures. Tuberculosis had diminished enough for vaccination to be stopped. As for measles and whooping cough, we live with irregular outbreaks.”he specifies.
How can we explain such a resurgence?
The resurgence of these diseases can be explained by several factors: the cessation of barrier measures since the Covid pandemic, a decline in collective immunity, insufficient prevention and a relaxation of vaccination coverage.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been the victim of false information implicating it in cases of autism, leading to strong mistrust among parents. In 2018, it became mandatory for all infants, in an attempt to stem the phenomenon.
BCG, the vaccine against tuberculosis, which mainly affects people in very precarious situations, “no longer found anywhere in pharmacies”, underlines Mikael Askil Guedj. Concerning whooping cough, it would be necessary “Revaccinate in adulthood, especially pregnant women”believes Philippe Sansonetti, to protect future babies, because “The current vaccine does not provide lifelong protection against infection”.
As for syphilis, its return can be explained by the reduced use of condoms since the advent of antiretroviral treatments for AIDS. Philippe Sansonetti argues for “major information and awareness campaigns” et “serological tests as soon as there is a doubt” to diagnose.
In general, he believes that“there are holes and vagueness regarding real vaccination coverage” of adults in France and that it should be strengthened, hoping for a lot from the future digital vaccination health record.
