Flu: the epidemic is intensifying in France, a “very high” level reached among those under 15

Who says end of year holidays says winter and viruses in chaos. While the year 2025 has just begun, acute respiratory infections (ARI) are in full swing in France, as highlighted in the latest Public Health France report on the subject. “In week 52, activity linked to acute respiratory infections was significantly increasing in community medicine and hospitals across all age groups”we can read.

This is particularly the case for the flu, with an epidemic which continues to progress. “All flu indicators were still up sharply in week 52 in all age groups”indicate the authorities. All regions of France are placed at alert level “epidemic”as well as Martinique overseas. Guadeloupe and Guyana remain in “pre-epidemic”. “The rate of consultations for all ages for influenza syndrome estimated from data from the Sentinelles and IQVIA network is 337 per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 342 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week”specifies Public Health France.

In the hospital too, we are witnessing strong growth, reaching a “high” level of intensity. “The number of visits to the emergency room for influenza-like illness was 17,536, or 4.9% of visits (compared to 3.0% in S51). The number of hospitalizations after visits for influenza-like illness was 2,984, or 4.2%. of all hospitalizations (compared to 2.4% in S51)”details the health authority. In detail, children under 15 are the most affected in town and in hospitals: the epidemic among them has reached a “very high level“, notes Public Health France. A sharp increase in hospitalizations among people aged 65 and over has also been noted.

The epidemic peak of bronchiolitis seems to have passed

On the contrary, bronchiolitis continues to lose ground. “A decrease in syndromic indicators of bronchiolitis was observed in town and in hospital in S52, for the second consecutive week, confirming the passage of the epidemic peak occurring in S50 in France”explains the report. In any case, this bronchiolitis epidemic continues to follow a dynamic similar to those occurring before the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite everything, almost all French regions – with the exception of Île-de-France and Corsica in mainland France, and Réunion overseas – remain at the epidemic alert level.

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Finally, note that, for Covid-19, “the activity [reste] generally stable at low levels”.