The flu epidemic intensifies in France. In its latest epidemic bulletin relating to the week of December 5-11, Public Health France evokes the “continuation of the increase in flu indicators in all age groups”. Even more worrisome, the organization notes a “sharp increase in hospitalizations.”
A finding that justifies the passage of all metropolitan regions in the epidemic phase. The previous week, Occitania, New Aquitaine and Pays de la Loire were still in the pre-epidemic stage.
57 people admitted to intensive care
In more detail, the number of ER visits for flu-like illnesses increased by 93% in one week, from 3,408 to 6,569 visits in seven days. The increase is even greater in hospitalizations after going to the emergency room, which rose 117%.
Since the start of surveillance of the flu epidemic for the 2022-2023 season last October, 57 severe cases of flu have been admitted to intensive care. And as for city medicine consultations, they are now estimated at 265 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The flu epidemic was officially declared in France by the health authorities on November 30, first affecting Brittany and Normandy. It arrived early, and added to two virulent epidemics already underway: Covid-19, and bronchiolitis, which affects very young children.
The “urgency” of getting vaccinated
Since the beginning of the flu season this year, three deaths have been reported, Public Health France underlines in its bulletin on Wednesday, “all in patients aged 65 or over.” Of the severe cases observed in the intensive care unit, five were between 0 and 4 years of age, two between 5 and 14 years of age, 21 between 15 and 64 years of age, and 29 between 65 and over years of age.
Public Health France highlighted the “urgency of getting a flu shot for people at risk.” Since the start of the vaccination campaign, the number of volunteers has been decreasing.
Public Health France also reports “clustered cases of acute respiratory infection”, including 19 attributed to influenza, in the approximately 25,500 medical-social establishments that are entangled in the national territory.
At the European level, the evolution of influenza activity is increasing among the 39 countries participating in influenza surveillance. Since the beginning of the flu season, health authorities in the Northern Hemisphere have warned of a significant flu season, as seen this summer in Australia, where flu season runs during the summer.
Source: BFM TV
