Bronchiolitis Epidemic Begins Early in Paris, Raising Hospital โขPressure Concerns
Paris, France – An early surge in bronchiolitis cases is already being observed in Paris, prompting โขhealth officials to prepare for aโ potentially challenging โคseason. While the 2024-2025 bronchiolitis season was considered moderate, lasting approximately eightโข weeks from mid-November toโ mid-January, the early onset this year raisesโ concerns about increased pressure on pediatric healthcare facilities.
This year’s potentialโฃ early โขstart comesโฃ as Franceโ continues to implement a national strategy focused โคon prevention, utilizing new tools like โthe Abrysvoยฎ vaccine for โpregnant women (between the 32nd and 36th weeks of gestation) to provide newborns with protective antibodies, and Beyfortusยฎ (nirsevimab), a monoclonal antibody administered to at-risk infants to reduce severe bronchiolitis cases. These measures,โ introduced in 2023,โข protected over 450,000 babies from โserious illness last year, according to the Ministryโ of Health.
The primary โworry for โhealthcare providers โisn’tโค the virus’s virulence, but the strain โคon hospital resources. Each โbronchiolitis peak leads toโข overcrowded pediatric emergency rooms, bed shortages,โ and โtired staff. In 2022, some regions were forced to โฃactivate hospital emergencyโ plans, and โwhile the system is now better prepared, it remains vulnerable.
Theโ รle-de-France pediatricians’ union is advocating for improved coordination between hospitals and general practitioners, emphasizingโข that “the majority of bronchiolitis can be monitored by general practitioners.Emergencies should be reserved for seriousโค cases.” Health authorities โare alsoโข relying on widespreadโข vaccination uptake โto limit severeโ cases and alleviate hospital pressure.