Data from the network of sentinel doctors indicate that 1,500 cases clinically suggestive of influenza were recorded during the week of January 6 to 12, 2025. This figure represents more than double the weekly average observed during the previous four weeks. Since the start of the epidemic, which began at the end of December 2024, 3,975 cases have been recorded.
Home visits, particularly by SOS Médecins, also increased, with 108 consultations compared to 75 on average in previous weeks. The flu now represents 13% of reasons for visits.
Hospital activity: relative stability
In hospitals, 15 visits to emergency rooms for flu were recorded, a stable figure compared to the average for previous weeks. Hospitalizations after these passages are increasing slightly, reaching 7 cases compared to 5 on average recently. People aged over 65 remain the most affected, representing 84% of hospitalizations.
Virological analyzes confirm active circulation of the influenza virus, mainly type A, with co-circulation of subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2). The positivity rate of tests carried out in hospitals reached 26%, a figure significantly higher than the average of previous weeks (16%).
-Prevention measures and recommendations
To slow the spread, health authorities emphasize the importance of barrier gestures, in particular regular hand washing, wearing a mask in the event of symptoms and ventilating enclosed spaces. The flu vaccination campaign, coupled with that against COVID-19, continues until January 31, 2025. It targets the most vulnerable populations, in particular the elderly, pregnant women and health professionals.
With the intensification of the epidemic, health professionals are calling for increased vigilance, particularly towards populations at risk.
