The trend already announced in its latest bulletin by Public Health France, the flu virus is progressing, including in the department. Friday January 3, 2025 in the emergency room of the Niort hospital center, Dr Farnam Faranpour sounds the alarm. Its service is clogged. “You should avoid coming to the emergency room and dial 15, when possible”alerts the head of the division. “Currently we have 52 adults hospitalized with respiratory infections. Twenty-five patients are waiting, due to a lack of sufficient places. These figures do not include hospitalizations in the pediatric department. »
Monday evening I had forty-five patients in the corridors
Frédéric Pain, head of emergencies at Faye-l’Abbesse
The majority of patients are hospitalized for the flu: thirty in total. “Patients affected by very aggressive influenza viral forms, who require respiratory assistance. The number of hospitalizations due to Covid, with eight people, comes in second place. » Several cases of infections due to respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) have also been reported. This is the same virus that mainly affects newborns. “In adults, it can cause significant respiratory problems. We have five people in this scenario. We also have patients affected by rhinoviruses. » In the end, the Niort hospital made the wearing of masks compulsory within it. “For visitors or healthcare professionals when entering the healthcare sector. »
Postponing care to compensate for a lack of beds
Even more critical situation at the Nord-Deux-Sèvres hospital center (CHNDS) in Faye-l'Abbesse where the head of emergencies, Dr Frédéric Pain, spoke of a crisis unit meeting on Tuesday January 7, 2025 in the morning. “We are going to put in place the White Plan, reprogram the care that can be postponed to treat emergencies as a priority. Monday evening, I had 45 patients in the corridors, without sufficient available places. These were not pathologies solely due to the influenza virus. There was also pneumonia. » Like his counterpart in the department's capital, the head of the emergency department asks the population, “as far as possible”to head first towards his “treating physician” rather than coming directly to the hospital emergency room.
Covid-19: activity remains low
On the other hand, on the Covid-19 side, in community medicine and in hospitals, the level of activity remains low. Data from Public Health France confirmed by Dr Catherine Frigot at the Donjon pharmacy in the city center of Niort. “We did a lot of tests until the end of this year. People were concerned not to infect their families during the holidays. None were positive. That doesn't mean there aren't any. The virus is circulating but not at a high level. »
An exhausted vaccine stock
“About the flu, what’s a shame is that some are only waking up now to get vaccinated. We don't have any more! Manufacturing a vaccine is complex. We cannot have restocking. »
Regarding bronchiolitis which affects infants under 2 years old, “the end of the year is marked by a slowdown in the epidemic”always indicates in its Public Health France bulletin.
In Melle, the president of the union chamber of pharmacists admits to having been ” surprised “ by the peak of the bronchiolitis epidemic in November. “To the extent that an effort had been made to vaccinate pregnant women and protect newborns with the Beyfortus vaccine”specifies the pharmacist. Even if flu vaccinations have progressed this season, the latter remains vigilant: “ In recent days, things have started to get carried away. »
