Is the flu epidemic on the rise in France due to a relaxation of barrier gestures and insufficient vaccination? These are factors among others, according to health professionals, who also mention the coexistence of different strains of the disease and increased contact during the holidays.
“Patients have less of the reflex to wear a mask, we see some in the waiting room who come without a mask, we distribute them,” observes Dr. Urfan Ashraf, secretary general of SOS Médecins.
“Barrier gestures, the reflex of washing hands, hydroalcoholic solutions, ventilating, is less recently: it is part of the elements of transmission,” he told AFP.
But other factors are at play.
The end-of-year holiday period increased contacts while local doctors’ offices were closed, reducing the supply of care when demand increased.
In addition, two strains of influenza coexist, A (H1N1) and B (Victoria), although they usually follow one another, and a third is growing in strength, A (H3N2).
This phenomenon strengthens the circulation of the virus, which also affects patients “younger than usual, older children and adults up to 50 years old”, according to virologist Bruno Lina.
This patient profile increases the demand for care, believes Dr Ashraf. “Very significant aches, headaches, dizziness, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever that rises to 40, it can be impressive for someone who is not used to it” and “when he doesn’t tolerate all these symptoms well, his reflex is: + I need a doctor +”, he says.
– “Tense situation” –
The seasonal flu epidemic, which usually lasts ten to twelve weeks, intensified at the beginning of January, with hospitalizations at an “exceptionally high” level compared to previous seasons, Public Health France observed on Wednesday.
The number of flu-related deaths, mainly among those over 65, has increased.
To protect against this, the authorities insist that vaccination remains a major protection, especially against serious forms.
It is specially recommended for people aged 65 and over, immunocompromised people, infants over 6 months old with comorbidities, pregnant women and residents of medico-social establishments.
-However, this season, “the vaccination campaign got off to a very difficult start”, observes Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France, recalling that the flu is “deadly for fragile people”.
In retirement homes, “there is no massive peak in the epidemic”, tempers Jean-Christophe Amarantinis, president of Synerpa, the main union for private nursing homes.
But “we must encourage staff and residents to be vaccinated and respect barrier gestures”, notes Pierre Roux, president of the Association of Directors Serving the Elderly, and “we are trying to do education”.
“Unfortunately, the dunce cap falls on caregivers, even though they are in contact with patients and can transmit viruses,” regrets Mr. Besset.
Asked about a possible return of compulsory vaccination for caregivers, the Minister responsible for Health Yannick Neuder estimated Friday, during a trip to the Cochin hospital in Paris, that “the question will arise” in the future .
If vaccination coverage should “be a little better than last year”, it remains “low” with some 10.3 million anti-flu doses distributed so far, according to Philippe Besset.
Until the end of January, it remains possible to be vaccinated.
“When we look at emergency room arrivals, particularly cases of complications, more than 70% of people (…) are not vaccinated,” insisted Minister Catherine Vautrin (Work, Health, Solidarity, Family) on Europe 1/CNews Friday morning.
Faced with the influx of patients in their emergency rooms, 87 hospitals have triggered a “white plan”, a system allowing certain operations to be canceled or staff to be recalled from leave, according to the Ministry of Health.
In Cochin, where, as elsewhere in the AP-HP, there is no white plan, “the situation is tense” but less than in certain territories, observed Florence Dumas, emergency doctor.
Wearing a mask has become compulsory again in certain hospitals: Abbeville, Libourne, Le Havre, Calais…
After the Covid pandemic, “we had a bit of a tendency, collectively, to forget barrier gestures”, judged Yannick Neuder, calling for masking up in case of symptoms, sneezing or coughing “into the crook of the elbow”, washing hands regularly.
