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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Flu, bronchiolitis and Covid-19: these three pathologies which are circulating more and more in France, are worrying the health authorities. Which populations are affected? Should we be afraid of a viral explosion of these three diseases? The point with Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
Winter is not quite here yet, at least from the point of view of the calendar, which does not prevent the cold and related illnesses from being present. Flu, Covid-19 and bronchiolitis are present for the holidays. What to think of this “triple epidemic”?
Covid, bronchiolitis, flu: 3 distinct diseases
If the condition is “completely new“according to Public Health France, remember that influenza, Covid-19 and bronchiolitis are three different pathologies, caused by three different viruses: RSV for bronchiolitis, Sars-Cov-2 (and its variants, in particular Omicron) for Covid -19 and the H3N2 virus for influenza this year.
Climatic conditions favor the time spent indoors and thus viral transmission, which may explain the multiplication of cases. But each of these conditions, even Covid-19, should be considered a recurring seasonal infection.
Concomitant epidemics
And like any seasonal infection, flu and bronchiolitis have been back in the spotlight for a few weeks. Usually, the bronchiolitis epidemic arrives before that of the flu, but the latter is particularly early this year.
A fact confirmed by Public Health France (SPF), which notes in its weekly epidemic surveillance bulletin published on December 7, a “epidemic circulation in nine regions of France” of the influenza virus and a contrasting situation for bronchiolitis, with overall circulation of RSV remaining”high“, at the beginning of December (week 48, from November 28 to December 4).
The special case of Covid-19
Regarding Covid-19, which evolves in waves rather than by season, the cold also plays a role in its spread. Indeed, the virus, which is transmitted by aerosols and droplets, sees its transmission favored by the gatherings of people in closed places that are poorly or poorly ventilated. Unsurprisingly, in week 47, from November 20 to 27, SPF notes “an acceleration of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2“. And so, more generally, we are witnessing a joint progression of the viruses responsible for these three pathologies.
Different affected populations
“The bronchiolitis virus particularly affects young children and infants, while flu and Covid are the prerogative of adults, mainly” explains Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
The doctor therefore wanted to reassure the crowds, worried about the progression of these three diseases and the hospital overload they could cause. For week 48, we counted “291 people hospitalized after going to the emergency room for flu syndrome”and “2,938 children hospitalized for bronchiolitis after going to the emergency room“.
Implement barrier gestures and vaccination
If the Covid-19 epidemic worsens, can we fear increased tension in the hospital? “The hospital is the place that brings together all the sick people and there is always a lack of means, but let us remember that these are not the same services that receive children affected by bronchiolitis and adults infected with the flu or Covid.“says the doctor again, who wants to avoid any alarmism.
“Let us recall, however, the importance of barrier gestures and vaccination, especially in adults, which concerns the same people for influenza and Covid.” he concludes.