The influenza epidemic, already very marked for several weeks, has accelerated again in recent days in France, reported this Wednesday, January 29 The Public Health Agencystressing that children are exceptionally affected.
The week completed on January 26 was marked by a “strong intensification of the epidemic in France”, summed up Public Health France in a weekly assessment, noting that mortality remained high in adults.
The flu has circulated this winter at an unprecedented level for several years for several years, taking advantage in particular from the joint traffic of several strains of the virus. Many hospitals have triggered white plans to better react to the influx of patients, and the health authorities have extended the antigrippal vaccination campaign, deeming the vaccination coverage insufficient.
Frequent hospitalizations in children
It was in this already heavy context that the public health agency announced on Wednesday that the situation was still worsening and was now worrying in children, an age group that normally risks less complications than the older ones. The last days have been marked by an “exceptionally high activity in children”, underlines Public Health France. In the little ones, above all, hospitalizations are particularly frequent. For those over four years old, about a tenth of them are linked to the flu, a proportion never seen in recent years.
The fact remains that the epidemic accelerates in all age groups and that it is indeed adults who always record a particularly high mortality. “The share of deaths with the mention of influenza among the certified electronically (remain) deaths (remains) very high compared to previous epidemics”, with around 7 % of the dead associated with flu, according to the public health agency. These deaths mostly affect those over 65. However, a worrying element, the anti-grip vaccine seems ineffective this year in this age group this year.
According to preliminary data, the vaccine is only effective at 35 % among those over 65, even though health authorities are trying to encourage the most people concerned to be vaccinated. “Given the low efficiency of influenza vaccine in 65 and over […] The systematic adoption of barrier gestures within the general population remains essential to help limit the circulation of respiratory viruses “, concludes public health France, evoking handwashing and systematic ventilation of confined places.