the essential
The flu epidemic is intensifying in France, where several hospitals have launched their white plans. But for Anne Goffard, virologist at Lille University Hospital and professor of virology at the Lille Faculty of Pharmacy, the peak has not yet been reached. She deciphers the situation for La Dépêche.
The flu epidemic seems particularly severe this year. White plans are activated in several hospitals. Should we be worried? How do you analyze the situation?
Anne Goffard : First of all, you should know that, from one year to the next, winter flu epidemics change a lot. We can have 2 million patients one year and 500,000 the next without really knowing why. This is a year when the epidemic will be strong. Since Covid, we haven’t had one this intense. But I’m not particularly worried, because, in the vast majority of cases, the flu is not serious. But there are always people who develop very severe forms requiring hospitalization or even intensive care.
What is the profile of these people? Do we see that they are not vaccinated?
These are indeed unvaccinated people. People, most of them fragile. That said, every year, we see people without pathology, who were doing very well before the flu, end up in intensive care. We don’t know how to explain that.
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Have we reached the peak of the epidemic?
No, we haven’t reached the peak. Usually this happens in January-February. We shouldn’t be very far away, but we’re not there yet.
Is it too late to get vaccinated?
It’s starting to be a little late, since vaccine protection arrives two to three weeks after the injection. There we will be at the end of January, we should be towards the top of the peak. However, the virus is now circulating. In general, it is said that you should get vaccinated until the end of December.
Are the symptoms different from previous years?
No. We have a fever, which can go up to 40°C, we are very tired, and we cough. There may also be muscle pain. We also observe a very sudden onset: an hour before, we are doing very well. It usually lasts 4 to 5 days, but the cough can last 10 to 15 days after the flu episode, and you can remain tired for 3 weeks to a month afterwards. It’s not such a trivial disease.
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Is it more complicated to diagnose the flu now that the virus coexists with Covid?
In general, you do not need to be tested to have a diagnosis. At the moment, anyone who has a fever of 40°C, who coughs and who has body aches is said to have the flu. Is it worth knowing if it’s the flu or Covid? Not really. It’s not going to change much. Either way, there is no treatment, and the care is the same.
Do you think that barrier gestures, less followed, can explain this epidemic?
There are two things that we should have learned from the Covid epidemic: wearing a mask, it doesn’t hurt anyone, and getting vaccinated. All the people with colds that we see on public transport during rush hour, it would be good if they wore a mask to avoid spreading their viruses to everyone else.
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The vaccination rate is not sufficient, in your opinion?
No, the rate is not very high, and we can only deplore it.
Should we worry about emergencies?
It depends on each hospital. We had the end of year holidays, general practitioners were on leave, so people came to the hospital, which could have congested the services. There, they returned, so we can hope that fewer people show up in the emergency room.
How do you see the situation evolving?
We’re going to have the peak, then it’s going to come down. In general, at the end of February-beginning of March, we have a second wave linked to the winter holidays. Afterwards, in general, it goes out during March.
What recommendations for the public?
Only one: wear your mask!
