Situation Analysis

As is often the case at this time of year, there has been an increase in the number of consultations for bronchiolitis in general practice and in emergency departments, particularly those at the Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital. This year, the rapid increase and the significant exceeding of expected peak values for outpatient consultations over the past two weeks likely mark the onset of a full-blown bronchiolitis epidemic. The equally sharp rise in the number of emergency department visits, along with the increase in laboratory-confirmed cases of respiratory syncytial virus infection, confirms this epidemiological trend. It is now essential to reiterate and disseminate as widely as possible the recommendations aimed at limiting the transmission of the virus and ensuring appropriate care for infants.