Flu, Bronchiolitis, but also Covid-19…. viruses are circulating more and more in France, according to the latest weekly bulletin from Public Health France published on November 29, 2023.
- All winter viruses are circulating more in France.
- Bronchiolitis activity in children under two years of age was increasing in cities and in hospitals. SOS Médecins also reports an increase in cases of Covid-19.
- The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Île-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions have moved into the pre-epidemic phase of the flu.
As temperatures drop, viruses are becoming more and more present in France. Santé Publique France notes that the activity of the viruses responsible for bronchiolitis, Covid-19, and to a lesser extent that of the flu, is increasing.
“We are currently observing an active circulation of various respiratory viruses, in particular RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), rhinovirus, SARS-CoV-2, while the circulation of influenza viruses still remains low to date”specifies the organization’s weekly report tracing the evolution of acute respiratory infections for the week of November 20 to 26, 2023.
Bronchiolitis: cases still on the rise
RSVs do not show signs of shortness of breath. “The activity linked to bronchiolitis was significantly increasing in France for all syndromic surveillance indicators: SOS Médecins medical procedures (+1.7%), visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations after visits to the emergency room for bronchiolitis (+9.2%)”specifies Public Health France.
Emergency departments treated 7,019 children under 2 years old for bronchiolitis between November 20 and 26. This represents 23.1% of passages in this age group and an increase of 4.5% compared to the previous week. 2,163 of these young patients were hospitalized (43.7% of hospitalizations in this age group).
All 12 metropolitan regions and 3 overseas regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana) remain in the epidemic phase. Corsica, hitherto spared, has just been placed in the pre-epidemic phase.
Covid-19: most indicators are climbing
Covid-19 is also showing signs of significant activity. Both in cities and in hospitals, SARS-CoV-2 seems to be more frequent. SOS Médecins reports an increase in cases, particularly among those aged 15-64 and those aged 65 and over.
While syndromic indicators in hospitals remained stable overall, hospitals noticed a slight increase in cases among those aged 65 and over. “The positivity rate of tests carried out in community medicine has fluctuated in recent weeks, but remained at a high level. In hospital, the positivity rate continued to increase”specifies Public Health France.
Flu: circulation on the rise, but still low
The flu virus is showing signs of gaining strength. Faced with the increase in cases, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Île-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côté d’Azur regions were placed in the pre-epidemic phase. “This increasing trend was more marked in community medicine and concerned all age groups but particularly those under 15 years of age. Virological data was also on the rise in community medicine and in hospitals.”
However, Santé Publique France notes that, according to the indicators observed, “the circulation of influenza viruses still remains low to this day”.
