Epidemics of influenza and gastroenteritis are common in Reunion

Epidemics of influenza and gastroenteritis are common in Reunion

After a lull, Reunion is once again in an influenza epidemic, with an increase in visits to the emergency room, activity in community medicine, and a recorded positivity rate. With the continuing increase in the number of visits to emergency rooms due to gastroenteritis, Reunion is also entering the context of the gastroenteritis epidemic. Visits to emergency rooms for treatment of bronchiolitis have also increased (illustration rb/www.imazpress.com)

Between September 4 and 10, 2023 (Week 36), the number of visits to the emergency room for influenza-like illness recorded a moderate increase with 25 visits in Week 36 compared to 22 visits in Week 35. However, hospitalizations recorded a decrease with four hospitalizations compared to six in S35.

In community medicine, the share of acute respiratory infections activity was increasing by 6.9% of the total activity
Week 36 compared to 5.4% in Week 35, remaining above the 2013-2022 average.

People younger than 15 accounted for about 70% of emergency room visits for influenza-like illness at week 36.
The share of emergency activity for influenza-related causes remained low and represented only 1% of total activity.

– Gastroenteritis epidemic –

At week 36, visits to the emergency room for reasons related to gastroenteritis continue to increase after the sharp increase observed at week 35.

The number of visits to the emergency room for gastroenteritis causes for all ages rose moderately by 7% with 119 visits compared to 111 the previous week. The number of hospitalizations was stable with 15 hospitalizations in week 36 versus 16 the previous week.

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Among children under 5 years of age, emergency room visits for reasons related to gastroenteritis also rose slightly to 65 visits, compared to 60 visits the previous week.

Post-pass hospitalizations were stable at week 36 with 10 hospitalizations compared to 11 at week 35.

– Cases of bronchiolitis are increasing –

Emergency visits for bronchiolitis in children under two years of age increased with 28 emergency visits.
Emergency visits at week 36 compared to 22 visits at week 35, an increase of 27%.

The number of new hospitalizations rose sharply in Week 36 with 14 hospitalizations compared to 6 in Week 35.

The proportion of emergency room visits for bronchiolitis among all visits in children under age 2 was 9.1% at week 36 compared with 7.7% at week 35

Regarding virological surveillance, one sample of respiratory syncytial virus was identified at week 36 as well as at week 35. Reunions do not occur in the context of the bronchiolitis epidemic despite the regular but contained increase in health indicators

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About the Author: Irene Alves

"Bacon ninja. Guru do álcool. Explorador orgulhoso. Ávido entusiasta da cultura pop."

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