INFLUENZA 2020 – According to Public Health France, all regions of France are in epidemic, except Normandy. How to avoid contagion and what are the warning symptoms?
[Mise à jour le mercredi 29 janvier 2020 à 10h45] The flu continues to grow in France, according to the last bulletin published by Santé publique France on January 29, 2020. In mainland France, all regions are in epidemic except Normandy. For the week of January 20 to 26, 2020, there are 190 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants, 460 people were hospitalized for flu syndrome and 244 people were admitted to intensive care for “severe cases of influenza”. They were on average 53 years old. Among them, 22 people died, including two children under 15, 12 people between 15 and 64 and 8 people over 65. Currently, these are influenza viruses type A and B that are circulating this winter in France, but there is precisely a prevalence of H1N1 type A virus and B / Victoria.
Alert level map by region in week 4 (2020)
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Influenza epidemics can affect all age groups each year, but the most vulnerable are those children under two, adults over 65 and people with certain chronic diseases.
The first symptoms:
- A great tiredness (asthenia) which settles gradually and in an increasing way
- Chills, even when you’re not cold
- A dry, painful cough
In a second time :
- An itchy, sore throat
- High fever above 39 ° C
- A stuffy, runny nose
- Muscle and joint pain that looks like aches
- Crying, bloodshot, or sore eyes when touched
- Headaches
In all cases, in the event of sudden aggravation or without improvement of the state 72 h after the first symptoms, it is essential see a doctor.
“The incubation time (the time that elapses between the time of illness and the onset of symptoms) generally lasts between 24 and 48 hours, but it can extend to 72 hours, recalls Dr. Parneix. However, the patient is contagious, even before the onset of symptoms, during an average period of 6 days“
To be infected with the flu virus, you must be in contact with someone who has already had the flu. Contamination can be done in three ways. The first by airway : a sick person projects droplets of saliva into the air, while talking, coughing or sneezing. Millions of viruses are then found in the air, ready to be inhaled and contaminate you. The second, by close direct contact : a sick person shakes your hand or kisses you. Finally, contamination can be done by the contact with affected objects by a sick person, for example a door handle or a telephone. To avoid contaminating people around you, it is better to respect these few hygienic gestures:
- wash your hands thoroughly and systematically after blowing your nose, coughing or more generally, after each outing,
- cough at the crease of the elbow and cover the nose when sneezing,
- blow your nose in a handkerchief and then throw it in the trash, ideally closed with a lid,
- carry a surgical mask if you are sick and have to go to a closed and public place, this prevents contamination of others.
To limit the seasonal flu epidemic, it is essential to adopt simple daily preventive measures aimed at limiting the circulation of the influenza virus, especially in communities and on public transport where it is easily transmitted. For those around people with flu, it is recommended to respect these few rules of hygiene:
- Wash your hands regularly and systematically after each outing and each contact with the sick person.
- Avoid close contact with the person with the flu and in particular if you are vulnerable or “at risk” (pregnant women, seniors, people suffering from a chronic or immunodeficient disease, young children …)
- Wash yourself regularly hands with soap and water, or if you can not do otherwise, with a hydro-alcoholic solution, especially after any contact with the patient and after each return home.
- Do not share objects such as glasses, cutlery and obviously toothbrushes.
- Ventilate your interior every day for 10 to 15 minutes to renew the air and avoid the proliferation of viruses.
- Clean nests for germs like door handles, remote controls, phone screens …
If you have flu-like symptoms, consult a doctor quickly. He will be able to establish the diagnosis and prescribe the most suitable medicines for you. Generally, you should take paracetamol to calm fever, aches and pains. Vitamin C is also sometimes recommended to fight against fatigue. If necessary, we can complete with a nasal decongestant and one antitussive for dry and rebellious coughs. Finally, we must drink plenty of water and rest. But forget antibiotics : “the flu is caused by a virus and antibiotics are totally ineffective in treating viral diseases, moreover they could deteriorate the good bacteria which the body needs to defend itself from the disease“specifies Dr. Pierre Parneix. As the hands are the source of many contaminations, do not hesitate to wash them with soap regularly throughout the day, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. hydroalcoholic gel is also practical, but in the long run it can dry out the hands. Finally, remember to ventilate the rooms regularly, several times a day: this will remove stagnant viruses from the air, by sneezing and breathing.
To prevent your child from getting the flu virus, it is important to teach them to blow their nose in a disposable tissue, to cover their nose to mouth when they sneeze or cough. In all cases, consult your pediatrician so that he can examine him and administer, as the case may be, the most suitable treatment.
It is possible to get the flu vaccine since October 15, 2019, to prevent the 2019-2020 epidemic. This vaccine is recommended and free for people at risk such as pregnant women, people with certain chronic respiratory or heart diseases (respiratory or cardiac failure), people over 65, with an immunodeficiency or those suffering diabetes, asthma, obesity, cystic fibrosis …
In 2019, the flu epidemic started in early January, peaked in the first week of February and ended in late February, 8 weeks of epidemic. It lasted half as long as in 2017-2018. According to the bulletin of Public Health France published on October 21, 2019, the epidemic was dmoderate intensity in ambulatory medicine, but was characterized by a high number of hospitalizations after going to the emergency room for influenza-like illness and serious cases admitted to intensive care. This epidemic was also marked by a significant excess mortality in a short time, with approximately 8100 deaths attributed to influenza. The cause of the severity of this epidemic is the co-circulation of the A (H3N2) and A (H1N1) viruses and a vaccine that is not effective enough.
Thanks to Dr Pierre Parneix, medical officer of health and hospital practitioner in public health (CHU de Bordeaux).
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