INFLUENZA 2020 – According to Santé Publique France, the flu is progressing with the circulation of type A and B viruses. All French regions are affected (5 regions in the epidemic phase and 8 in the pre-epidemic phase).
[Mise à jour le mercredi 22 janvier 2020 à 10h45] The flu is progressing in France, according to the bulletin published by Santé Publique France on January 22, 2020. In mainland France, five regions are in the epidemic phase (Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Pays de la Loire), 3 more than the previous week and 8 regions are in the pre-epidemic phase (Hauts-de-France, Normandy, Brittany, New Aquitaine, Loire Valley Center, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand-Est, Corsica). In short, all metropolitan areas are affected by the flu. For the week of January 13 to 19, 2020, there were 122 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants, 328 people were hospitalized for influenza-like illness and 183 people were admitted to intensive care. These are the flu viruses type A and B currently circulating this winter in France.
Alert level by region in week 3 – 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 most common symptoms are:
- High fever (over 39 ° C);
- Intense fatigue (also called “asthenia”);
- Aches in the muscles and joints;
- Headaches ;
- Dry cough.
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“, reminds Dr. Parneix.”However, the patient is contagious, even before the onset of symptoms, for an average period of 6 days“, he adds.
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 protect yourself, 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,
- put your hand in front of your mouth when you cough and cover your nose when you sneeze,
- blow your nose in a handkerchief and throw it in the trash,
- wearing a surgical mask if you are sick and you 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. These hygienic procedures must be observed to limit transmission, as soon as the first flu symptoms appear. In particular wash their hands regularly, teach your children 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. For those around people with flu, it is recommended:
- avoid close contact with the person with the flu, especially if you are fragile;
- to wash your hands regularly, especially after any contact with the patient.
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.
It is possible to get the flu vaccine since October 15, 2019, to prevent the 2019-2020 epidemic.
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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