The hard part is over. The flu epidemic would now experience a decline in the number of cases. Public health France points in its weekly bulletin that the influenza epidemic enters its descending phase. Despite the decrease in the number of influenza cases, all metropolitan regions remain epidemic phase.
Since the epidemic began five weeks ago, 1.8 million people have seen their doctors for flu-like illness.
The elderly are the first victims of the virulence of the virus this year. Since the start of the epidemic, the number of excess deaths “from all causes” is estimated at 14,300, mainly among the elderly (65 years and over).
Excess mortality, mainly among those 65 and over
However, the report underlines a drop in the “number of visits to outpatient and hospital medicine” among those aged 65 and over, as well as the reduction in the “weekly number of outbreaks of acute respiratory infections” in places of reception for the elderly. Vigilance remains all the same according to Public Health France.
As of November 1, 2016, 1,190 severe cases of influenza have been reported and overa million sick have been registered.
#Flu: ↘ Decrease in influenza activity but all metropolitan regions remain in an epidemic phase https://t.co/HQPTRJuHeQ
– SantépubliqueFrance (@santeprevention) February 8, 2017
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