From January 6 to 12, no fewer than 611 people died due to the flu epidemic in France. Faced with a “high level of intensity”, according to the Public Health France bulletin, which further increases the pressure on hospitals, will vaccination need to be made compulsory?
The epidemic “was not sufficiently anticipated”. On the BFMTV set, the professor of emergency medicine, Frédéric Lapostolle, points out the lack of anticipation in the face of the rapid evolution of the flu. And the numbers are alarming. In one week, from January 6 to 12, the disease caused the death of 611 people. “Our indicators, whether in hospital or in terms of deaths, clearly show the severity of the flu epidemic this year”notes Sibylle Bernard-Stoecklin, epidemiologist in the infectious diseases department of Public Health France. This rapid transmission could cause excess mortality higher than the 9,000-10,000 deaths that an epidemic causes on average each year.
The Sentinels network indicates that the incidence rate of influenza viruses has risen to 231 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. A rate well beyond the epidemic threshold, located at 179 cases. “Flu epidemics are expected every year […] each time, the health system is shaken up, even up against the wall in the face of a predictable flu epidemic”deplores the doctor.
“Very high hospital activity”
For its part, Public Health France affirmed, Wednesday January 15, that hospital activity is “very high” and she notices a “clear increase in deaths”. As proof, 7.3% of deaths occurring between January 6 and 12 were linked to the flu in France. As of January 10, 87 white plans have been activated. The Oscour network affirms that 5.2% of patients admitted to the emergency room are linked to influenza during the first week of 2025. A figure almost five times higher than the average between 1% and 1.5%.
-Frédéric Lapostolle also ensures that “vaccination is not up to par”, particularly in nursing homes. However, it is in these places that the population most at risk is found. Should vaccination be made compulsory at least for people who can seriously suffer from the flu?
published on January 20 at 7:00 a.m., Gabriel Gadré, 6Médias
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