All French departments are now affected by the epidemic

The flu has taken hold in France. All mainland regions and a large part of overseas territories are now affected by the virus, Public Health France said on Thursday, January 24.

The seasonal flu epidemic has spread to all mainland regions and large parts of overseas territories, Public Health France said on Wednesday 24 January, also noting the persistence of bronchiolitis and covid reflux.

The week of January 15 to 21 saw a more intense circulation of the influenza virus “with increased positivity rates in the city and in hospitals. There was also increasing activity in community medicine and emergency room indicators.” The Public Health Agency summarized in its weekly. Bulletin on Acute Respiratory Infections.

In the hospital, the number of emergency room visits for flu/flu-like illness increased significantly (+61%, in one week, to 7,546), as did the number of subsequent hospitalizations (+55% to 1,349).

In mainland France, all regions are now struggling with the flu, with Brittany and Normandy in turn entering the epidemic phase. Abroad, Martinique joined Guyana and Guadeloupe as regions completely affected by the epidemic. Mayotte has already happened.

Bronchitis continues to increase

If the flu has intensified, bronchiolitis, which mainly affects children, has continued to decrease. In mainland France, no region is in the epidemic phase, with four additional regions having left it (Bourgogne-Français-Comte, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica).

Public Health France noted that “the use of emergency room and hospital admissions following bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age has continued to decrease” and that “SOS Medicines medical procedures have stabilized at a moderate level.”

Abroad, bronchiolitis persists in Guadeloupe, Reunion and Mayotte; Martinique and Guyana are no longer considered epidemic areas.

Covid-19 is still actively circulating

As for Covid-19, the virus is still actively circulating, but the decline seen in community medicine, hospitals and even sewage has continued for several weeks.

In this context, in addition to insisting on the vaccination of those most at risk against flu and Covid, Public Health France reiterated its call to “respect the wearing of masks in case of symptoms, in busy places and in the presence of vulnerable people. , hand washing and regular ventilation of closed spaces.

Just under a third of French people aged 65 and over have received an anti-Covid reminder since the start of the autumn campaign. And since this second campaign began, a third of anti-Covid vaccinations for seniors have been administered, as have anti-flu vaccinations.

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