Five years after the appearance of Covid-19, the flu is making a comeback: it even represents the most severe acute respiratory infection this winter. In Occitanie, as elsewhere in France and Europe, this epidemic is saturating the Languedoc and Roussillon university hospitals, which have been placed on a “hospital under tension” plan.
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“Intensification of influenza activity in cities in France. Marked severity of the epidemic, with very high hospital activity and a clear increase in deaths“: the latest bulletin from the Public Health France agency, issued for the week of January 6 to 12, 2025, is rather chilling!
In question, the co-circulation of the three influenza viruses, which respond to the sweet names of: A (H1N1) pdm09, A (H3N2) and B/Victoria.
The flu has once again become the most severe respiratory infection this winter, especially as Covid-19 shows stable activity at low levels.
But be careful, warns Charlotte Boulle, epidemiologist at Montpellier University Hospital, “However, Covid-19 has not disappeared, far from it, even if it has been circulating at low levels since October. We just avoided the double flu/Covid penalty this winter.”
-As highlighted by Santé Publique France, Charlotte Boullé recalls that in addition to existing vaccinations and preventive treatments, the practice of barrier gestures remains essential to protect oneself from all winter diseases.
Washing your hands is not enough, you must ventilate the rooms morning and evening for a few minutes and wear a mask in case of fever, sore throat or cough, in busy places.
Charlotte Boulle, epidemiologist at Montpellier University Hospital
These viruses generally attack between the months of October and March and evolve each year. To be effective, vaccination against influenza is generally carried out before winter, but it is still possible to be vaccinated until January 31 in pharmacies. You must wait approximately 10 to 14 days after the injection for complete protection.
But in France, “In general, we rarely vaccinate against the flu. believes Charlotte Boulle.
Only a third of people eligible for this vaccination do so.
For example, this year, the Gard department has 5,200 fewer people vaccinated compared to last year.
