New Aquitaine faces peak gastroenteritis: is the shellfish virus to blame?

“In New Aquitaine, for two to three weeks we observed a sudden increase in acute gastroenteritis activity in SOS doctors and hospital emergency cases,” Laurent Filiol, an epidemiologist at Santé Publique France, poses for France Bleu's microphone on Wednesday. During the week between Christmas and New Year's, stomach illnesses accounted for 11% of SOS physician consultations and 2.7% of emergency room visits. Its proportions Doubled once Compared to the previous week.

While the presence of norovirus in shellfish from the Arcachon basin prompted health authorities to ban its sale and consumption a few days before the new year, it is possible to reasonably link it to this sudden stomach rush. “Not everyone is doing tests. But doctors are questioning families. And what comes out is “Many stomach and intestinal infections are linked to shellfish consumption.”, Laurent Filliol confirms.

Especially that “The weather conditions were very unfavorable. After heavy rains, we could have an overflow of sewage and leaching, leading to shellfish contamination,” The epidemiologist confirms.

A peak similar to that of 2021-2022

But this is not the only factor that explains this rise in the stomach: “We have consumption of contaminated food, and viral flow”, Laurent Filliol was angry. Because there are digestive peaks every year and some are stronger than others. “This is higher than previous years, but lower than in 2019, where the peak was significant.” It puts the epidemiologist in perspective. Peak ER activity is associated with acute gastroenteritis “But it is close to that recorded during the 2021-2022 season in the same period.” Adds Santé Publique France.