A worrying evaluation. The influenza epidemic 2024-2025 was particularly severe both in terms of deaths and hospitalizations, concludes public health France (SPF) this Wednesday, April 16.
“In total, the 2024-25 influenza epidemic was marked by a relative precocity, a longer duration than the average and significant severity, in all age groups, but especially among children under five years and over 65,” reports the National Health Agency in its latest weekly bulletin on epidemics of the season.
On the other hand, he points out a normal season for bronchiolitis in babies and a low Covid-19 activity during the winter season.
• 12 weeks of epidemic
The influenza epidemic began early in continental France this winter. It began at the beginning of December before reaching its peak at the end of January and ending at the end of February.
In total, the epidemic lasted twelve weeks, while between 2011 and 2024, an average of 10 weeks lasted. Keep in mind that a period after the epidemic, however, lasted several weeks in Continental France and that most regions abroad were still beaten in early April.
The epidemic has also been marked by a “co-circulation at high levels of the three seasonal influenza viruses”, A (H1N1) PDM09, A (H3N2) and B/Victoria, France of Public Health. “What is unusual.”
The health authority indicates “several factors” that have been able to generate this strong circulation of the disease: insufficient vaccination coverage, the slightest efficiency of the vaccine in people 65 years or more, particularly at risk, or even “the strong circulation of the flu in the children of age to be educated at the time of the end of the year.” Young children, at risk of developing serious flu forms, probably contaminated their elders more.
• Almost 3 million consultations
The Sentinel Network, composed of more than 1,200 Liberal General professionals, estimated that City Medicine had provided 2.7 million consultations for influenza syndrome. Also identified almost 224,000 SOS acts for influenza/influenza syndrome.
At the top of the epidemic, at the end of January, consultations for flu/influenza syndrome by SOS doctors represented 27.8% of all medical acts throughout the age. A higher value “for the previous record reached during the 2022-23 flu epidemic.
• 29,000 hospitalizations
Hospitalizations almost reached the figure of 30,000. At the beginning of December until the end of February, more than 29,100 hospitalizations were recorded after an emergency room for influenza/influenza syndrome. 60% of worried people of 65 years or more, but the proportion of hospitalization was particularly high in children compared to other years.
“The peak of activity in the hospital was reached in early January, with an exceptionally high level of intensity in all age groups,” SPF said.
The number of people reported that it has a serious flu case and admitted in intensive care is also particularly high. The first week of January, 273 admissions were reported in this way constituting the peak.
89% of severe cases affected the 18 -year -old people, 86% of which presented “at least one comorbidity.”
“79% of the cases for which the vaccination status (62%) were not informed were not vaccinated against the flu,” says the National Agency.
• Almost 5,000 deaths
This winter’s epidemic was accompanied by a large number of deaths, especially among the major. “The impact of the 2024-25 flu epidemic was considerable in terms of mortality,” says SPF.
If it is still too early to give a precise evaluation in terms of mortality, it can be seen that 4,925 deaths were certified electronically as linked to the flu, 82% of which referred to people 65 years or older. The peak of the deaths was reached the second week of January: the flu represented “7.3% of all deaths declared by electronic certificate, the highest value recorded since 2020”. However, this indicator only gives a partial idea of reality.
• Only 46.5% of people at risk vaccinated
At the end of the flu vaccination campaign, which ended on February 28 after starting on October 15, 46.5% of people at risk attacked by vaccination were vaccinated, 53.7% of 65 years or more, and 25.3% of children under 65 years at risk of severe flu.
These vaccine covers, stable compared to the previous season, are still “insufficient” in the France of Public Health.
The general director of Health, Grégory Emery, also called this Friday, April 11, pharmacists to “mobilize to guarantee an adequate supply of flu vaccines for the next vaccination campaign. Not to meet the same” difficulties in supplying and distributing doses in the territory “like last winter.
Source: BFM TV
