The latest bulletin from Public Health France, published this Thursday and covering the period of last week, reports a “Strong increase in all flu indicators in the city and in hospitals, in all age groups . »
All regions of mainland France are at epidemic level. “The A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Victoria viruses continued to co-circulatespecifies Public Health France about the flu. Children under 15 were most affected in town and in hospital, but a marked increase in visits to emergency rooms and hospitalizations among people aged 65 and over was observed. »
In fact, “All of these indicators reveal a circulation of influenza viruses which is intensifying within the general population and which particularly affects older people, who are particularly vulnerable to influenza”says Public Health France. The flu, the consequences of which can be serious, with hospitalizations (3% of hospitalizations in week 51 were due to the flu, compared to 1.7% the previous week) and unfortunately deaths (2% of deaths in week 51 were linked to flu, compared to 0.9% the previous week). At the same time, bronchiolitis is seeing most of its indicators decline, and covid remains stable at low levels.
These figures therefore date from before the holidays and could well continue to increase due to population regroupings induced by Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Public Health France reminds that “Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against influenza and COVID-19, particularly severe forms of these diseases” and that “In the context of gatherings during the end-of-year holidays, and in addition to existing vaccinations and preventive treatments, the adoption of barrier gestures remains essential to protect against all winter diseases: washing of hands, ventilation of rooms and wearing a mask in the event of symptoms (fever, sore throat or cough), in busy places and in the presence of vulnerable people. »
