« An intensification of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be beginning, the evolution of which will need to be monitored vigilantly over the coming weeks », alerts Public Health France in its weekly bulletin of Wednesday September 25.
All indicators for all ages were increasing in town and in hospital. This increase concerns adults and more particularly those aged 65 and over. At the level of wastewater, the increase in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 continued for the fourth consecutive week.
A new variant is spreading
It first appeared in June 2024 in Germany. Since then, the XEC variant has continued to gain ground across the world, particularly in France. It is now present in 11 European countries, as well as four others around the world.
XEC is a mutation between two omicron subvariants, which could allow it to spread quickly in the fall, experts say. According to Eric Topol, director of the Scripps research translational institute in California, “ XEC is just getting started worldwide “. By the time the virus spreads, there should not be a new wave for several weeks or even months, he told Euronews.
Numbers of cases increasing throughout France
For the moment, it is also too early to determine whether XEC is having an upward influence on the number of recorded Covid-19 cases. However, the number of acute respiratory infections has been increasing in recent weeks. According to data from the Sentinels Network, the national incidence rate was approximately 198 per 100,000 inhabitants, observed in general medicine consultations during the week of September 16 to 22.
In comparison, this number was 146 during the week of September 9 to 15. Currently, Brittany is the most affected region with an incidence rate of 400 per 100,000 inhabitants, the previous week it was 271. The Grand Est and Nouvelle-Aquitaine also recorded an increase in cases with a rate respectively of incidence of 302 and 296.
In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the incidence rate reached 187 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, also up compared to the previous week, when it was 122.
Also read : Covid-19: should we be worried about the new XEC variant?
Start of the vaccination campaign on October 15
The XEC variant could be the predominant virus this winter. The symptoms are quite similar to those already known such as cough, sore throat and headache, fever and also possible loss of taste and smell. According to BBC News, experts believe that the vaccine should be effective in combating the variant.
October 15 will mark the start of the vaccination campaign in France for Covid and also for the flu.
