essential
The flu continues to actively circulate throughout the region as in the whole national territory. Faced with this situation, the vaccination campaign is extended until February 28.
The influenza epidemic is still intense currently in Occitania with levels of indicators higher than the epidemic peaks of the two previous seasons, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in Occitania said this week. “The use of the hospital in connection with the flu remains very high: last week, 848 people went to the emergency room for a influenza syndrome and 176 of these passages led to hospitalization. In medical offices, the number of consultations For flu or influenza syndrome is also always very important, “said the ARS on Thursday, which ensures special vigilance concerning children.
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“In those under 15, the circulation of the virus is clearly increasing. In this age group, influenza syndromes represented 7 % of emergency passages and 7.7 % of hospitalizations in Occitania,” said ARS, which recalls some basic rules to limit propagation, especially within families. “It is essential to adopt barrel gestures daily (mask wearing, hand wash and ventilation of premises) in particular in the event of symptoms. Simple but effective, these gestures make it possible to significantly reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses.”
Faced with the virulence of the epidemic, the flu vaccination campaign is extended until February 28, 2025 to slow down transmission, prevent serious forms and reduce hospitalizations.
-Less vaccinated Occitania
“The joint vaccination campaign against flu and COVVI-19 is extended until February 28, 2025” and “fragile persons are invited to be vaccinated without delay,” the General Health Directorate said on Wednesday in a press release . “There is still time and useful to be vaccinated. Vaccination is particularly recommended for vulnerable people (65 years and over, people with comorbidities, pregnant women, residents of medico-social establishments) but also for those around them and health or social sector professionals, “recalls ARS.
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A useful recall because in Occitania, vaccination coverage of persons at risk remains insufficient, with a vaccination rate of 34.4 % in the region, against 35.6 % for mainland France, according to the first regional and departmental estimates, in Beginning of the season, on November 30, 2024.
The winter flu epidemic, which usually lasts ten to twelve weeks, started a little more early this season, before the holiday season. In mid-January, influenza viruses are still actively circulating and, in France, the epidemic remains at a high level of intensity, in all age groups. From a “marked severity” this 2024-2025 season, this influenza epidemic has an “still important impact” on deaths and provokes a hospital activity “still high”, according to the France Public Health Review for the third week of January , also published on Wednesday.
