Savoy. The very strong flu epidemic overwhelms hospitals

The hospitals of Savoie spent the Christmas holidays under tension. Albertville-Moûtiers had to trigger phase 1 of its White plan, due to a lack of beds, due to winter epidemics combined with vacationer accidents on the slopes.

In Chambéry, the emergency rooms experienced a large influx and the hospitalization departments were very full. The cause: the rise of the flu, particularly virulent this winter.

Between the week of December 16 to 22 and that of December 23 to 29, the rate of visits to the emergency room for influenza-like illness increased by 140%, from 189 to 455 (per 10,000 visits). “The slope of rise in the number of cases is steep, with significant severity,” confirms the D^r Emmanuel Forestier, head of the disease department…