Far from the media light around the new coronavirus from China, the seasonal flu claims victims in France. As of November, 22 people have died and the epidemic is growing, according to official weekly figures released Wednesday, January 29.
It is “2 children under 15, 12 cases aged 15-64 and 8 cases aged 65 and over”, according to the health agency Public Health France.
Since the beginning of November, “244 serious cases of influenza have been reported” and admitted to intensive care, including 29 last week. The average age of these serious cases is 53, and 75% had risk factors (age over 65, chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart and respiratory failure, etc.). Three quarters of the patients with risk factors were not vaccinated.
The flu epidemic is affecting all metropolitan areas, except Normandy, which should soon follow, however, as it is in the pre-epidemic phase. Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint-Martin are going through an epidemic phase. In Reunion, the epidemic is over.
Last week, the flu represented in France a consultation rate of 190 per 100,000 inhabitants, in ” huge increase “ compared to the previous week (122).
10,000 deaths on average in France each year
“The proportion of influenza-like illness among SOS-Doctors consultations is also increasing sharply” (11.3% last week against 7.3% the previous), according to the health agency.
Similarly, emergency room visits and hospitalizations for influenza or influenza-like illness increased sharply: there were 5,514 and 460 respectively last week, compared to 3,480 and 335 the previous week. “The passages mainly concern children under the age of 5 (35%) and the 15-44 age group (31%). Hospitalizations particularly concern children under the age of 5 (29%) and people aged 75 and over (21%) ”, details Public Health France.
Each year, this viral disease affects between 2 million and 6 million people in France and official figures show an average of 10,000 deaths related to the flu. Globally, the annual death toll is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) between 290,000 and 650,000.
Public Health France recalls that the best way to protect yourself from the flu is vaccination and recalls some actions against winter viruses, such as washing your hands regularly with soap and water or with an alcoholic solution, coughing or sneezing in his elbow or use a disposable tissue.
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