The flu virus is doing well and is currently spreading in France with the number of cases continuing to increase. Some hospitals have also activated the white plan to manage the epidemic. The white plan consists of mobilizing all available staff to try to increase reception capacities: we deprogram so-called non-urgent interventions or hospitalizations to hospitalize patients with the flu. Bulk we are paying for the vaccine fatigue of the French who have shunned this vaccination campaign and some of whom unfortunately end up in hospital.
Fortunately, it is not definitive: there is still time to get vaccinated. The vaccination campaign continues at least until January 31 and even if the epidemic is experiencing a worrying peak, it is not yet too late to receive an injection. Especially since there are sometimes two flu epidemic peaks. Cases may decrease then start to rise sharply within a few weeks.
To limit the saturation of hospitals due to the flu, we remind you who should be vaccinated as a priority: people over 65, those with chronic pathologies, pregnant women or those surrounded by vulnerable people. The flu epidemic is also experiencing a very marked increase among those under 15 years old. With the resumption of classes, it is not impossible to see more and more flu in schools and therefore it is not crazy to offer vaccination to children on a case-by-case basis.
Respecting barrier gestures is important but not sufficient
In addition to vaccination, respecting barrier gestures is important to avoid the flu. But that’s not enough. We have known since Covid that we must properly ventilate spaces with effective ventilation and air conditioning systems to renew the air. But absolutely nothing has been done anywhere, so inevitably, in all enclosed, poorly ventilated places where many people are, well, we get sick. This is the case for schools but also for public transport, such as trains or metros.
Once sick we stay in quarantine. Contagion begins approximately 24 hours before the onset of symptoms. It is at its maximum during the first three days and can extend up to a week. So in case of flu, we don’t send the children to school and give them a little paracetamol: it’s useless, it’s totally counterproductive. And we consult or teleconsult a doctor for sick leave.
When should you worry? When the fever lasts more than 5 days, if you have a secondary infection with excruciating pain in the sinuses, that is to say in the head, pain in the ears for an otitis or obviously if you have difficulty breathing, a sign of a secondary pulmonary infection.
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