The flu epidemic continues to grow in mainland France and the West Indies. Children are particularly affected this year.
More discreet than the current Covid-19 epidemic in China, the seasonal flu epidemic continues to spread across mainland France and the West Indies. The public health agency France public health, in its inventory published Wednesday January 12, a slight increase in the number of consultations and visits to emergencies for influenza-like illness for a week. So far, 34 deaths from the flu have been reported.
Flu last week generated a consultation rate “Moderately increasing” compared to the previous week (324 / 100,000 inhabitants compared to 287 / 100.00). It also affected 15% of SOS Doctors’ visits and a little more than 9,000 people went to the emergency room for influenza-like illness in the past 7 days. Among them, 818 were hospitalized.
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Most affected children this year
This year, children are particularly affected: children under five represent almost a third of emergency visits and hospitalizations for influenza, compared to 20% for people over 75. A phenomenon due to the types of virus circulating this year. Analyzes of samples taken in the city and at the hospital, the influenza A H1N1 and B / Victoria viruses are the most observed this winter.
“The H1N1 virus, involved in the 2009 epidemic, is known to cause more serious forms in children and young adults, explains Cécile Souty, statistician in the Sentinelles network team. Conversely, the A H3N2 virus, which dominated last year, has a greater impact on the elderly. That could explain the increase in severe cases among the youngest this year. “
Since November, more than 408 serious cases have been admitted to intensive care, of which 34 have died. These are 6 children under the age of 15, 15 cases aged 15-64 and 13 cases over the age of 65. The average age of these severe cases is 51 years and 73% had risk factors for complications. Among those with known vaccination status, three-quarters were not vaccinated against influenza.
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Insufficient vaccination
Vaccination coverage is still insufficient this year again. According to Health Insurance, just under half of those at risk who have been asked to be vaccinated for free – those suffering from diseases such as heart or respiratory failure, massive obesity, asthma, chronic bronchitis called COPD, as well as pregnant women – have been vaccinated this year.
However, vaccination remains the most effective means of protection against the flu, especially for these people. “The vaccine protects against 4 types of virus: A H1N1, H3N2 and 2 strains of virus B, says Cécile Souty. Its composition corresponds rather well to the strains which circulate mainly this year ”. This is decided annually at the international level according to the viruses most likely to circulate during the winter.
Since the peak of the epidemic has not yet been reached, there is still time to get vaccinated, knowing that protection becomes effective two weeks after the injection. Moreover, Health Insurance has decided to extend the vaccination campaign until February 29. As a reminder, seasonal flu affects 2 to 6 million people each year and is involved in 10,000 deaths on average.
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