The COVID-19 points to its nose again. Several indicators show that the virus has been spreading in France since the end of summer.
For example, the Sentinel Network, which is based on 1,300 liberal doctors, scored during the week of September 15 to 21 an incidence rate of 48 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. “Subject to the future data consolidation, this rate is increasing for the second consecutive week and is at a moderate level of activity,” said the network.
A similar trend in the hospital is observed. According to the data collected by Public Health France, the number of adult passages for suspected COVID-19 increased by 37% during this week.
Finally, samples sent to laboratories for the test become positive in more than 20% of cases. “We have noticed a duplication of figures since July, and this is also found in other evaluation tools, such as wastewater monitoring,” says Professor Olivier Schwartz, director of the Virus and Immunity Unit of the Institut Pasteur.
“Are you going to make a more or less marked wave? It is difficult to say it for the moment. We can see that this is the case in many countries such as the United States, where it has been greeted with this summer, up to 600,000 new cases diagnosed per day. The peak was reached since the figures have fallen. It is less marked than last year,” adds the virologist.
“Rapid” growth of the “variant” of Frankenstein “.
One of the difficulties in anticipating the intensity of epidemic recovery is based on the circulation of new variants such as the “XFG”, which quickly gained popularity with its nickname “Frankenstein”. He inherited this nickname because the scientists observed that it was a hybridization of the OMICRON variant.
“It is characterized by a relative decrease in its sensitivity to its neutralization by the antibodies, already measure that the number of antibodies decreases in people who have been infected or vaccinated, the virus can continue spreading, does not disappear, illustrates Olivier Schwartz.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “the XFG is experiencing rapid growth compared to co-circulation variants on a global scale.” It extended significantly in Asia in April and May, with a rapid increase, 2.5% of strains at 11%. In Canada and Europe, the variant is also progressing. “We have just over 25% of the presence of this variant today.”
The experiences were carried out in June 2025 in Southeast Asia, where it had been discovered. “The report said there was no clear sign of observed gravity, no more death, no more critical way. They decided that, ultimately, surveillance would be done closely, but had evaluated the general risk as bass,” said BFMTV consultant and doctor on Monday, Aurel Guedj.
For the Professor of the Pasteur Institute, there is no need to worry, but it must be attentive. “At the moment, there is nothing alarming, but you have to remain attentive.”
Source: BFM TV
