The seasonal flu epidemic intensified in the first week of January, affecting almost all metropolitan regions, while the decline of the bronchiolitis epidemic continues, the public health agency reported on Wednesday, January 10.
The first week of January, the second week of the school holidays, was marked by an “increase in the circulation of flu viruses in France, with 11 epidemic regions,” the last being the Pays de la Loire region, Public Health summarized. France in its weekly bulletin on acute respiratory infections.
“We are in the growth phase of the epidemic and the school holidays have caused this growth to stop in some way, but that has not broken the dynamic,” virology professor Bruno Lina told BFMTV. “We anticipate that we still have at least 2 to 3 weeks of increased case numbers left.”
Reduction of bronchiolitis
As of now, in mainland France, only Brittany and Normandy are not totally affected by the flu epidemic. However, they should continue, being until then in the pre-epidemic phase.
Abroad, Guadeloupe and Guyana remain in the epidemic phase, Martinique has moved to the pre-epidemic phase. But the epidemic has ended in Mayotte.
If the flu continues to spread, bronchiolitis, which primarily affects babies, is decreasing.
“Emergency visits and hospitalizations after a visit for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age decreased for the fifth consecutive week,” said Public Health France, also highlighting “a decrease in medical procedures by SOS Medicos.”
While eight continental regions remain affected, five regions are no longer considered an epidemic zone, including Ile-de-France, since the first week of January.
Reflux of Covid-19
Regarding Covid-19, the virus continues to circulate actively, but the decline observed for several weeks continues, in community medicine and in hospitals.
In general, “the circulation of respiratory viruses remains at a high level in hospitals, with a very clear increase in the detection of influenza viruses,” summarized the health agency.
In this context, in addition to insisting on the vaccination of people at highest risk against flu and Covid, Public Health France reiterated its call to respect “the use of a mask in case of symptoms, in crowded places and in the presence of vulnerable people “. , hand washing and regular ventilation of closed spaces.
Just under a third of French people aged 65 and over (29%) have received a booster anti-Covid vaccine since the start of the autumn campaign. And a third of anti-Covid vaccinations for older people have been carried out at the same time as flu vaccinations, since the opening of this second campaign.
Source: BFM TV
