The flu epidemic is taking hold in mainland France

Normandy was resisting, the last stronghold not affected by the flu epidemic fell. The entire metropolitan territory has entered the seasonal flu epidemic phase. This viral, contagious and virulent disease kills thousands of people every year. It has already killed 26 people in France since November 2019 while attention is currently focused on the new coronavirus from China.

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The ” influenza activity indicators “Recorded a” huge increase »Last week andepidemic declared in Normandy, the last metropolitan area that was still spared, according to official weekly figures published Wednesday. Consultations for syndrome influenza registered by the Sentinelles network jumped 62% compared to the previous week, to 301 per 100,000 inhabitants, while the influenza accounted for 15.3% of the reasons for visits by SOS Doctors against 11.3% the previous week, detailed the public health agency France. Nearly 9,000 people went to the emergency room for influenza-like illness (+ 56%, at 8,821 passages). Of these, 810 were hospitalized, 72% more than a week earlier.

Young children are more affected

Unlike other years, children seem to be significantly affected by the epidemic: those less than five years represent almost a third of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for influenza. Since November, 311 serious cases have been admitted to intensive care, of which 26 have died. The average age of these severe cases is 52 years and 73% had risk factors complications (over 65 years of age, chronic diseases, etc.). Among the latter, three-quarters were not vaccinated against the influenza (among those whose vaccination status was known).

The first vaccine created with a intelligence artificial

Each year, seasonal flu affects 2 to 6 million people. It causes tens of thousands of emergency visits and leaves 10,000 people dead on average. Thewinter last, the epidemic had resulted in lower mortality than the average of previous years, but still significant, given its short duration, with around 8,100 death estimated during the two months of the epidemic phase.

Seasonal flu: 22 dead in France since November

Article by Nathalie Meyer, published on January 31, 2020

She returns every year at the same time. Still very contagious. Sometimes also very virulent. Seasonal flu. According to a latest assessment, it has already killed 22 people in France since November 2019.

As the world worries about the spread of coronavirus 2019-nCoV from China, theNational Public Health Agency French publishes today some figures concerning the most classic seasonal flu that has been raging in our country since November. A flu carried mainly by two virus different: the virus A (H1N1), of the most dangerous type and the virus B / Victoria, of the most frequent type. Viruses that have already killed 22 people, including two children under the age of 15.

In the past week, consultations have increased sharply, from 122 per 100,000 to 190 per 100,000. Just like hospitalizations, which mainly concern children and the elderly. All regions of metropolitan France are now affected by theepidemic. With the exception of Normandy which still appears in the pre-epidemic phase.

Seasonal flu vs coronavirus

The best way toavoid contamination by one of flu virus seasonal remains the vaccination. But doctors also point out the attitudes to adopt to protect yourself and those around you: wash your hands regularly, cough and sneeze into your elbow, use disposable handkerchiefs and wear a mask once the flu syndrome is proven.

Precautions that should also help fight against spread of coronavirus. As of January 31, 2020 in the morning, six cases had been confirmed in France and 213 deaths recorded in China. While specialists note that, although little is known about its transmissibility or actual virulence, most sufferers appear to be affected by minor forms of the infection. The mortality rate currently in the range of 2 to 5% should even drop below 1% over time. A figure to compare with that of the seasonal flu which can reach 0.5% in France.