The flu epidemic is on the rise again in France after four consecutive weeks of decline, the public health agency summarized on Wednesday.
This increase was observed mainly in three regions:
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Centre-Val-de-Loire
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
In the other metropolitan regions, the trend in flu activity was generally stable, according to the weekly report from Public Health France.
In total, ten regions out of thirteen are still in epidemic.
Ten days ago, health authorities announced an
extension until February 28
of the national flu vaccination campaign.
Type B virus circulation
Last week, the positivity rate for influenza was up sharply (+13 points) in the city, with
“an increase in the share
of type B/Victoria viruses
(which infect almost exclusively humans unlike
type A
which is also present in certain animals such as aquatic birds), which have become the majority”
, underlines Public Health France.
“
However, this virus can quite reinfect people who have already had type A flu
”, underlines Benjamin Davido, infectiologist at the Raymond-Poincaré hospital in Garches.
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Against the flu, the vaccine remains very relevant
The seasonal flu epidemic started early this season in France, and added to a particularly intense outbreak of bronchiolitis in babies, as well as a wave of Covid, a “triple epidemic” which put pressure on the care system.
Even if they are on the rise again, the flu indicators remain “
at a low level of intensity in the city and in the hospital
”, notes Public Health France, continuing to insist on the importance of vaccination.
Bronchiolitis, which has been declining since the end of 2022, continues to decline over most of the territory, the epidemic having ended in three new regions (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes- French Riviera).
It now only affects Mayotte.
