The indicators are on the rise. For several weeks, health authorities have been observing an increase in Covid-19 cases. Possible carriers of outbreaks, several variants of the virus are under reinforced surveillance around the world. A sublineage of BA.2.86, called JN.1, is especially analyzed.
“We have a new genomics of the variant that has the characteristic of escaping immune protection against infection, not against severe forms,” Antoine Flahault, an epidemiologist at the University of Geneva, explained to RTL this Friday, December 15.
In France, at the beginning of December, 30% of Covid cases recorded in the laboratory belonged to JN.1. According to the epidemiologist, “it is much more transmissible than the flu virus.”
The importance of vaccination
Different factors can explain a resumption, for the moment moderate, of Covid-19 cases. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, waves have occurred approximately every four months, mainly due to a drop in the population’s immunity,” says Xavier Lescure, member of Covars (committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks).
Added to this phenomenon is “the foreseeable resurgence of winter, with decreasing outdoor temperatures and more time spent indoors, where viral transmissions are facilitated.”
For this reason, Antoine Flahault, like the Minister of Health this Wednesday, asked the French to get vaccinated – again – against Covid-19 and the flu. “We need a rebound in vaccination. We’re over 10 million for flu, we’re over 5 million for Covid. We’re still ahead of last year’s numbers for Covid, we need to catch up a little bit with flu.” And it’s a good time to do it,” declared Aurélien Rousseau.
And he added: “Prevention is what guarantees that we are going to have a good holiday. And not only us, but also the hospital caregivers, it is one of our obsessions. We have the tools to allow the hosts not to feel overwhelmed this winter.” . “.
Source: BFM TV
