Regional Health Agency Clarifies Transfer Reasons
Sixteen infants with bronchiolitis have been transferred from Île-de-France hospitals to facilities in other French regions since mid-October, according to the Regional Health Agency (ARS). The agency emphasized that not all transfers resulted from hospital capacity shortages in the Paris region.
Responding to reports from France Inter, the ARS confirmed that two of these transfers occurred during the first weekend of December. While initial reports suggested transfers were primarily due to lack of available beds, the health authority provided additional context.
Proximity to Family Homes Influenced Decisions
“Of these sixteen transfers, six were not at all related to hospital strain,” stated the ARS. “The parents lived in another region, so transfer made sense.” For the remaining ten cases, the agency explained that while beds existed in Île-de-France, they were in hospitals farther from families’ homes. “It was more logical to transfer them to other regions but to hospitals closer to their residences,” the ARS clarified.
National Epidemic Context
The bronchiolitis outbreak has placed all mainland French regions except Corsica on epidemic alert since late November. During the week of November 24-30, approximately 3,000 infants under one year visited emergency departments for bronchiolitis, with about 1,000 requiring hospitalization.
Île-de-France remains among the three hardest-hit regions, alongside Normandy and Hauts-de-France. Bronchiolitis represents the leading cause of hospitalization for infants under one year in France annually, typically affecting numerous children between October and February.
Health authorities note that the preventive treatment Beyfortus, available for three years, helps prevent severe forms of the illness.
