Previous studies have revealed developmental problems in children of homeless families. The number of homeless families has increased by 5 in 10 years.

To estimate the adaptative behavior of homeless children aged 0-5 years old in Paris region and to analyze the impact of homelessness on children's development.

In 2013, a random survey was conducted among homeless families housed in emergency centres for asylum-seekers, emergency housing centres, social reinsertion centres and social hotels in the Paris region. A bilingual interviewer and a psychologist conducted the survey in 17 languages. A nurse took the anthropometric measures and collected health data from child health and immunization cards. For children aged 0-5 years old, mothers (or fathers when mothers were absent) were asked about the children's adaptative behavior using the Vineland Adaptative Behavior Scales, Second Edition (Vineland-II).

The built random sample consisted in 801 families including 557 in which the selected child was 0-5 years old, which represents 11448 children (95% CI = 10354 – 12541). The estimated mean of the composite score of Vineland-II is 76.98 (95% CI = 74.07 – 76.70) (SD = 12.03) which mean that 9259 children aged 0-5 years old (95% CI = 7684 – 10833) have a developmental delay. The most associated factor with the decrease of the Vineland-II score is the age (p<10-16) in the linear multivariate model.

ENFAMS survey reveals large developmental problems among homeless children in Paris region.More children are exposed to homelessness more the disorders are important.

Children growing up in homeless families are disproportionately more likely to experience health and psychological problems. Our objective was to describe social, environmental, individual and family characteristics associated with emotional and behavioral difficulties among homeless children living in the Paris region.

Face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of homeless families were conducted by bilingual psychologists and interviewers between January and May 2013 (n = 343 children ages 4-13 years). Mothers reported children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ]), family socio-demographic characteristics, residential mobility, and parents’ and children’s physical and mental health. Children were interviewed regarding their perception of their living arrangements, friendships and school experiences. We studied children’s SDQ total score in a linear regression framework.

Homeless children had higher SDQ total scores than children in the general population of France, (mean total score = 11.3 vs 8.9, P < 0,001). In multivariate analyses, children’s difficulties were associated with parents’ region of birth (beta = 1.74 for Sub-Saharan Africa, beta = 0.60 for Eastern Europe, beta = 3.22 for other countries, P = 0.020), residential mobility (beta = 0.22, P = 0.012), children’s health (beta = 3.49, P < 0.001) and overweight (beta = 2.14, P = 0.007), the child’s sleeping habits (beta = 2.82, P = 0.002), the mother’s suicide risk (beta = 4.13, P < 0.001), the child’s dislike of the family’s accommodation (beta = 3.59, P < 0.001) and the child’s experience of bullying (beta = 3.21, P = 0.002).

Children growing up homeless experience high levels of psychological difficulties which can put them at risk for poor mental health and educational outcomes long-term. Access to appropriate screening and medical care for this vulnerable yet underserved group are greatly needed.

An unprecedented outbreak of Ebola virus diseases (EVD) occurred in West Africa from March 2014 to January 2016. The French Institute for Public Health implemented strengthened surveillance to early identify any imported case and avoid secondary cases.

Febrile travellers returning from an affected country had to report to the national emergency healthcare hotline. Patients reporting at-risk exposures and fever during the 21st following day from the last at-risk exposure were defined as possible cases, hospitalised in isolation and tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Asymptomatic travellers reporting at-risk exposures were considered as contact and included in a follow-up protocol until the 21st day after the last at-risk exposure.

From March 2014 to January 2016, 1087 patients were notified: 1053 were immediately excluded because they did not match the notification criteria or did not have at-risk exposures; 34 possible cases were tested and excluded following a reliable negative result. Two confirmed cases diagnosed in West Africa were evacuated to France under stringent isolation conditions. Patients returning from Guinea (n = 531; 49%) and Mali (n = 113; 10%) accounted for the highest number of notifications.

No imported case of EVD was detected in France. We are confident that our surveillance system was able to classify patients properly during the outbreak period.