It’s not just Covid-19 in life. Certainly, the Omicron variant creates panic and mayhem, in France and around the world. But endemic diseases are also circulating, especially the flu.
This is what Public Health France recalled on Tuesday, announcing the extension of the vaccination campaign against this virus until February 28, 2022. Vaccination is recommended to all people at risk, especially the elderly.
“Influenza activity was increasing in most regions at the end of December,” notes Public Health France. “After Occitanie and Ile-de-France, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has gone into an epidemic phase and Normandy and Burgundy-Franche-Comté in a pre-epidemic phase. “
Increase in consultations and hospitalizations
Controlling the flu is a crucial issue in this period, because this virus is not without consequences on hospitals, already saturated by Omicron: “The rate of consultations for flu syndrome has increased significantly (66%) since the end of December, ensures Public health France. […] The share of hospitalizations for influenza or flu syndrome among all hospitalizations is also up by 15% compared to the last week of December. “
Note that barrier gestures, very effective in preventing Covid-19, also serve to limit the circulation of influenza. On your masks!