” An intensification of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 appears to be beginning, the evolution of which will need to be monitored closely over the coming weeks. “, warns Public Health France in its weekly bulletin of Wednesday, September 25.
All indicators for all ages were increasing in the city and in hospitals. This increase concerns adults and more particularly those aged 65 and over. In terms of wastewater, the increase in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 continued for the fourth consecutive week.
A new variant is spreading
It first appeared in June 2024 in Germany. Since then, the XEC variant has continued to gain ground across the world, particularly in France. It is now present in 11 European countries, as well as four others worldwide.
XEC is a mutation between two omicron subvariants, which could allow it to spread rapidly in the fall, experts say. According to Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, ” XEC is just getting started worldwide “By the time the virus spreads, there should not be a new wave for several weeks or even months,” he told Euronews.
Number of cases on the rise across France
At this point, it is also too early to determine whether XEC is influencing the number of recorded Covid-19 cases upwards. However, the number of acute respiratory infections has been increasing in recent weeks. According to data from the Sentinelles Network, the national incidence rate was approximately 198 per 100,000 inhabitants, observed in general practice consultations during the week of September 16 to 22.
In comparison, this number was 146 during the week of September 9 to 15. Currently, Brittany is the most affected region with an incidence rate of 400 per 100,000 inhabitants, the previous week it was 271. The Grand Est and Nouvelle-Aquitaine have also recorded an increase in cases with an incidence rate of 302 and 296 respectively.
In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the incidence rate reached 187 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, also up compared to the previous week, when it was 122.
Also read : Covid-19: should we be worried about the new XEC variant?
Vaccination campaign begins on October 15
The XEC variant could be the predominant virus this winter. The symptoms are quite similar to those already known such as cough, sore throat and headache, fever and also a possible loss of taste and smell. According to BBC News, experts believe that the vaccine should be effective in combating the variant.
October 15 will mark the start of the vaccination campaign in France for Covid and also for the flu.
