THE ESSENTIAL
- The 2022-2023 flu epidemic is in its 14th week, longer than the average (11 weeks).
- The B/Victoria virus, the majority in France, had not circulated in France for 7 years.
- The vaccination campaign has been extended until March 31.
The flu does not seem to want to leave France. The 2022-23 epidemic was in its 14th week during the week of February 20 to 26, 2023, i.e. a “longer than average duration of epidemics since 2010 (11 weeks)”notes Public Health France in its weekly report of March 1, 2023.
The person responsible for this “longevity” : the B/Victoria virus. The strain, which has become the majority compared to influenza A which circulated at the start of the season, caused a significant rebound at the end of January.
Influenza viruses still very active in France
Influenza indicators were generally down in all age groups, in community medicine and in hospitals at the national level during the week of February 20 to 26, 2023.
However, Santé Publique France warns in its report:“In the 14th week of the epidemic, the circulation of influenza viruses remained very active in mainland France, with a majority of B/Victoria virus. The epidemic rebound observed since S04, carried mainly by the B/Victoria virus, is reflected in a significant impact in terms of severity (hospitalizations and deaths) but less than the levels observed during the epidemic peak at the end of December.
“The B/Victoria virus had not circulated for seven years”
“The B/Victoria virus had not circulated for seven years”said Christine Campese, epidemiologist at Public Health France, at the microphone ofEurope 1 on February 28, 2023. “It spreads especially among children because it is a population that had not (yet) encountered this virus and which is free from it.she clarified.
Faced with the presence of this virus and the epidemic rebound it has fueled, the health authorities have decided to extend the vaccination campaign until March 31.
Seasonal flu: reinfections are possible
This type of flu virus causes “sporadic waves” warned infectious disease specialist Benjamin Davido, also interviewed by Europe 1.
“The particularity, since it had been a long time since we had seen this flu, is that it is extremely tricky since it can contaminate people who had already had the flu in October by giving all the flu-like symptoms. possible: high fevers, body aches, etc.he warned.
The doctor also recalled the importance for the most fragile and their relatives to be vaccinated to avoid serious forms of the disease.
