Bronchiolitis: the epidemic reaches Corsica

So far, Corsica has been the only French region that has fought an epidemic of bronchiolitis, which mainly affects infants. This Wednesday, the French public health authority announced: “An epidemic of bronchiolitis is now infecting all regions of France, with Corsica entering the epidemic phase.”

Health authorities have stressed that this winter’s bronchiolitis epidemic is likely to be particularly marked after an empty year linked to Covid.

And the French public health authority said that children under two years old, the main age group with bronchiolitis, indicators remain at a “high level”.

Symptoms

Bronchiolitis, a common and highly contagious one, causes children to cough and wheeze hard and fast. Most of the time, it may require an emergency room visit or even hospitalization. Remember that there is no resuscitation service for children in Corsica, and in case of emergency you have to go to the mainland.

Corsica’s regional health agency states on its website that “adults and older children who carry the virus usually do not show signs or just have a mild cold. Thus, many people carry the virus and are contagious without it. They know.” The virus in saliva and nasal secretions is transmitted from person to person through saliva, coughing, sneezing, postures, etc. Or a touch like a kiss. The virus can remain in hands and objects (such as toys, pacifiers, and “soft toys”).

Last winter, confinement and anti-Covid barrier gestures helped prevent all viruses, including RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) responsible for bronchiolitis.

Children were less infected than usual and therefore less mass immunized, raising fears of an even stronger epidemic this year. This phenomenon can also relate to other winter viruses, including influenza or gastroenteritis.