Coughing. inhale. He blows his nose and sneezes. On the subway, in the office, in the supermarket, everywhere. Almost all hypochondriacs among us will feel like we could see the spread of the swamp with the naked eye, out there, under the gray skies and cool autumn temperatures.
If we haven’t missed them, there’s no doubt that Winter Diseases–which strike in the fall–are about to make their big comeback. Among other cases of Covid-19, angina and nasopharyngitis are joining the viral festivities. Raising the specter of major epidemics this winter.
‘We’ve had two weeks of recovery’
The numbers already show it: During the week of September 19-25, “the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) seen in a GP consultation was estimated to be 127 per 100,000 residents, the Sentinels Network notes in its most recent ARI. Surveillance Bulletin COVID-19, seasonal flu and all respiratory viruses. An increase in the rate compared to the previous week (93 cases per 100,000).” Which nearly doubled in two weeks: the week of September 5 to 11, the infection rate was “66 cases per 100,000 residents,” according to for the health monitoring network.
The result is embodied in general medicine practices. “We see it in consultation: there has been a resumption of winter viruses for two weeks, confirms Dr. Luc Doquenell, GP and president of the Les Généralistes-CSMF union. In addition to Covid-19 that has started again, we also have several cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which Gives the same ENT picture: runny nose, sore throat, fever, body aches.So yes, it’s increasing.
Young children are also no exception: “It is RSV that causes nasopharyngitis, angina and causes a dry cough, GP details. Children contaminate themselves before they contaminate their parents.”
“Fear of a severe influenza epidemic”
If the epidemiological milestone is still far from being crossed, which is normal at this time of year, the numbers should be crossed in the coming weeks. In addition to angina and nasopharyngitis, we can expect a return of attacks of gastroenteritis in the coming weeks. But also and above all seasonal influenza, coinciding with Covid-19, warns Dr. Dockinell. As the eighth wave of Covid-19 has already begun.
The risk of a double pandemic warns Professor Alan Fisher, the former government vaccine against the Covid virus, who fears a deadly return of influenza. And a batch of data from the other side of the globe feeds his fears: the numbers of the flu epidemic in Australia, raging in the heart of what is our summer, corresponding to the southern winter. According to the Australian Department of Health, the country has just had its worst flu season in at least five years.
A scenario could unfold in France this winter. “If we do not succeed in vaccinating more patients against influenza than we did last winter, then there are clearly fears of an influenza pandemic,” Dr. Duxnell worries, so the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign is scheduled for October 18. .
“A major challenge to achieve better control of respiratory infections”
Therefore, “we will have to remobilize a population that is tired of infections and vaccines,” Professor Fisher explained in his Wednesday interview to Parisian. And there is an urgency: “When we see the ease with which people have abandoned the barrier signals when we fully recover from coronavirus, this could raise concerns in the coming weeks,” Dr. Dukesnell adds.
Dr. Benjamin Davido, infectious disease specialist and referring physician, insists, “Whether with Covid-19, seasonal influenza or other seasonal viruses, there is a real public health challenge to better control all these infectious respiratory infections.” -Poincaré Hospital in Garchis. Nearly three years later, behaviors changed, but relaxation was regularly observed in barrier gestures.”
However, as doctors have pointed out since the beginning of the epidemic and even before that: “Respect for barrier measures plays a crucial role in controlling these epidemics, as Dr. Dockinell stresses. Remember the winter of 2020-2021, when barrier measures were strictly observed by the population and we did not have epidemics From winter illnesses. No flu, no bronchiolitis. Perhaps wearing a mask during transit is a good first step to protecting yourself further. This, and vaccinating eligible people.”
#Influenza #rhinoceros #gastros #reappear #winter
