Is the flu showing its first signs of slowing down? This is the observation that emerges from the latest figures of Public health Francepublished this Wednesday, March 13, and which report a clear decline in the epidemic throughout the country.
Twelve of the thirteen regions are now even in the post-epidemic phase, according to the latest figures from Public Health France. During the week of March 4 to 10, a total of five regions left the epidemic phase, including Guyana, particularly affected by the epidemic this winter. Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur is an exception, remaining to date the only region in metropolitan France to be in an epidemic phase.
12 regions out of 15 out of the woods
The lights are also still red in two overseas regions: Guadeloupe and Martinique, which are struggling to escape the epidemic level, thus going against the rest of France, where “the decrease in overall flu indicators (continued) […] in all age groups”, notes Public Health France in its bulletin.
Among the first indicators: the positivity rate for the flu virus, which rose from 28.6% at the end of February to 12.9% this week, according to figures recorded by city medicine. Likewise, the share of activity of SOS Médecins for influenza-like illnesses remained at a “fairly low” level for all ages combined. […] except among 0-14 year olds where it returned to a basic level,” the report specifies.
Drop in consultations for flu conditions
Some 4,800 home interventions by SOS Médecins concerned individuals presenting flu symptoms. Which represents no more than 5.5% of SOS Médecins consultations during the week of March 4. This is almost half as much as last year at the same period. In addition, detours to the emergency room due to flu symptoms also recorded a clear decline, going from 0.9% in the week of February 26 to March 3, to 0.6% in the week of March 4 to 10, all ages combined. .
In its report, Public Health France leaves little room for doubt: the flu epidemic is coming to an end. Epidemic which was however less severe this year than the previous season. This, even though vaccination coverage was less extensive in 2023-2024. Only 45.9% of targeted people at risk went to be vaccinated, compared to 50% during the previous season.
This is why the national public health agency is making a point of honor this week on the “systematic” maintenance of barrier gestures popularized during the Covid-19 health crisis: wearing a mask in the event of symptoms, washing hands without forgetting the regular ventilation of enclosed spaces. Even more so in the presence of vulnerable people, or in places with high traffic.