As the holiday season is in full swing, the flu virusspreads rapidly throughout France. The epidemiological bulletin dated December 26 highlights a notable increase in medical consultations for flu symptoms as well as hospital admissions. All metropolitan regions is now concerned, reporting a generalized progression of the epidemic in the space of a week.
Data shows that children under 15 remain particularly affected, whether in the city or in hospitals. At the same time, an increase in visits to emergency rooms as well as hospitalizations was observed among people aged 65 and over, a group considered particularly vulnerable to complications linked to the flu.
The increase in the number of deaths attributed to the flu in recent days illustrates theintensification of the circulation of viruses throughout the population. Health authorities point out that the elderly, due to their fragility, are particularly exposed to serious forms of the disease.
However, Public Health France tempers these findings. By comparing current activity levels with those of the five previous winter outbreaks, the agency estimates that the overall impact remains moderate for all age groups. To protect yourself effectively against the flu, vaccination remains the best preventive tool. The pharmacists' unions also report an acceleration of vaccinations in recent weeks, which made it possible to make up part of the delay accumulated at the start of the winter season.
At the same time, health authorities report that the bronchiolitis epidemic, which had heavily mobilized pediatric services in recent weeks, is now in decline. Nevertheless, it remains active in twelve metropolitan regions as well as in the Antilles, Guyana and Mayotte. Compared to previous years, this bronchiolitis epidemic has a relatively low intensity.
In this context of co-circulation of several winter viruses, the authorities continue to encourage the population to adopt barrier gestures and get vaccinated, particularly the elderly or frail, to limit risks and protect the most vulnerable.
