the region goes into “red alert”

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It is a real bronchiolitis epidemic that is raging in France and overseas, Public Health France alerts. The Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region has been placed on red alert. Children are mainly affected by this infection.

Last week (November 18 to 24, week 27), “syndromic indicators linked to bronchiolitis were increasing in town and in hospitals”, and this is not getting better, warns Public Health France.

Residents of Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes, here’s what you need to know.

The Paca region on red alert

As in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Paca region entered an epidemic situation last week. Île-de-France has been for more than a month, Hauts-de-France for two weeks.

According to Public Health France, the level of the epidemic is equivalent to that observed at the same time last year. On the other hand, no alert has been triggered for the flu in Paca, despite an increase in activity, particularly at SOS Médecins.

Bronchiolitis is not very serious in adults, except in individuals at risk (elderly, with comorbidities, etc.). However, it is in children under two years of age. The dangers are very real and very often require the intervention of a doctor.

Caution with infants

The observation is clear: the epidemic is gaining momentum among this age group. SOS Médecins acts relating to bronchiolitis increased last week compared to the previous week. 37 consultations were recorded against 27.

Same situation in the hospital: 239 children were admitted to the emergency room, compared to 156 in week 46 (+53.2%).

94 were even hospitalized subsequently, compared to 55 previously (+70.9%). According to Health Insurance, the majority of hospitalized children are infants under 6 months old.

Protect yourself from infection by adopting barrier gestures

The virus is easily transmitted through person-to-person contact. It is therefore advisable to wash your hands with liquid soap, for 30 seconds, before and after any contact with the child. Better limit contact with the outside worldespecially before 3 months.

The accommodation must be regularly ventilated. It is therefore advisable to avoid taking the child into confined public places.

Sneezing, spitting, coughing and blowing your nose can transmit the virus. Here again, you must be particularly vigilant near the child. Wear a mask maybe a solution. Finally, it is recommended not to share unwashed baby bottles, cutlery and pacifiers, as well as any other object that could have been soiled by saliva: toys, food, drinks.

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