The flu epidemic has started to rise again in France after four consecutive weeks of decline, the public health agency summarized on Wednesday.
This increase was observed mainly in three regions, including the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. In the other metropolitan regions, the trend in flu activity was generally stable, according to a weekly report from Public Health France. In total, ten regions out of thirteen are still in epidemic.
An increase of 13 points over the last week
The seasonal flu epidemic started early this season in France, and added to a particularly intense outbreak of bronchiolitis in babies, as well as a wave of Covid, a “triple epidemic” which energized the care system.
Last week, the flu positivity rate was up sharply (+13 points) in the city, with “a progression on the part of type B/Victoria viruses, which have become the majority”, emphasizes Public Health France. “However, this virus can completely reinfect people who have already had type A flu”, underlines to AFP Benjamin Davido, infectious disease specialist at the Raymond-Poincaré hospital in Garches.
Even though they are on the rise again, the flu indicators remain “at a low intensity level in the city and in the hospital”, notes Public Health France, continuing to insist on the importance of vaccination. According to Public Health France, however, there is an increase in flu indicators in all age groups, particularly among 5-14 year olds and 15-64 year olds.
9 patients under 15 died
Since the start of the epidemic in France, among the 82,345 deaths declared in mainland France by electronic death certificate, 1,046 (1.3%) were declared with a mention of influenza as a morbid condition having directly caused or contributed to the death.
Of these 1,046 deceased patients, 9 were under 15 years old, 120 were between 15 and 64 years old and 917 were 65 years old or older. In addition, 91 deaths concerned residents in nursing homes.
Vaccination campaign extended until February 28
Ten days ago, health authorities announced an extension until February 28 of the national flu vaccination campaign.
Bronchiolitis, which has been declining since the end of 2022, continues to decline over most of the territory, the epidemic having ended in three new regions (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes- French Riviera). It now only affects Mayotte.