With the arrival of winter come epidemics. In its latest bulletin, published this Wednesday, December 4, Public Health of France (SPF) takes stock of the three acute respiratory infections: influenza, bronchiolitis and Covid-19. In the city, as in hospitals, cases are increasing mainly among children, explained in this update of the situation.
As for bronchiolitis, most indicators increase in early December. Twelve regions, that is, all of France except for Corsica, are now on epidemic alert, as are the Antilles and Guyana. The age groups most affected by this observed increase in cases are children from 3 to 5 months, from 6 to 11 months and from 12 to 23 months.
However, the levels observed are still lower than those of the three previous winters, regardless of ages, the government agency said.
In its report, the SPF also points out the increase in flu cases throughout France, in cities and in hospitals, in all age groups. Five regions of France are in the pre-epidemic stage, including the entire north of the country, and Île-de-France is on red epidemic alert this week.
Finally, unlike bronchiolitis and the flu, Covid-19 is stable. All indicators are at low levels, underlines Public Health France.
Insufficient vaccines
Given the delay in vaccination against flu and Covid and facing an end to the year favorable to epidemics, health authorities called for “greater mobilization” at the end of November.
“Taking into account the winter period, the epidemic dynamics of respiratory viruses will probably accelerate rapidly in the coming weeks and will require preparation”, especially before the end of the year holidays, warned the Ministry of Health and Access to Healthcare, Health Insurance and Public Services. Health France in a press release.
The flu and Covid vaccination campaign, which began in mid-October and primarily targets higher-risk people, caregivers and other populations in contact with vulnerable people, appears to have started more slowly than last year.
The number of doses of flu vaccines delivered has thus decreased by 5%, with 8 million in this phase compared to 8.4 million in the same period in 2023, according to the Federation of French Pharmaceutical Unions.
Knowing that flu or Covid vaccines take about 15 days to be effective, there is no need to wait “to be protected during the end-of-year holidays,” the authorities insist.
Source: BFM TV
