If bronchiolitis and Covid-19 are decreasing in strength, the flu is still circulating strongly in France. Gastroenteritis remains stable.
- The circulation of the flu continues. In mainland France, 11 regions are in the epidemic phase and 2 regions are in the pre-epidemic phase.
- For bronchiolitis and Covid-19 the indicators are decreasing.
- The incidence rate of acute diarrhea is stable compared to previous weeks. It corresponds to a low level of activity compared to those usually observed at this time of year.
The cold that gripped France did not slow down the flu virus. In his latest weekly report on acute respiratory infections published on January 17, Public Health France notes that activity for influenza syndrome remains “very intense” in this second week of the year 2024.
Flu : 11 regions in epidemic phase
The health organization notes that the number of medical procedures for influenza-like illness for the week of January 8 to 14 increased by almost 2% to reach 11.2% of SOS Médecins’ activity. In hospital, emergency indicators were increasing among 0-4 year olds and decreasing in other age groups. However, Public Health France warns: “This This increase, observed among young children during this back-to-school period, could also be observed in other age groups in the weeks to come.“
In France, all regions are in the epidemic phase, with the exception of Normandy and Brittany which remain in “pre-epidemic phase”. In the overseas departments and regions, Guyana and Guadeloupe remained in an epidemic, Martinique in the pre-epidemic phase and Mayotte in the post-epidemic phase.
While the flu is still circulating widely on French soil, the other winter viruses are starting to loosen their grip on France. If the bronchiolitis epidemic is still present in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Corsica, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, four new regions have moved into the post-epidemic phase (Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), and three regions returned to baseline (Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Île-de-France).
Indicators of the Covid-19 epidemic continue to decline in town and in hospitals in all age groups, as do positivity rates. However, the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 remains active, warns Santé Publique France.
Gastroenteritis: an increase in consultations among children under 5 years old
In his weekly bulletin dedicated to acute gastroenteritis published this Thursday, the health organization indicates that “the incidence rate of acute diarrhea reported by the Sentinels network is stable (131 cases/100.000 residentsEditor’s note) compared to previous weeks. However, an increase in the proportion of consultations for this disorder for SOS Médecins was observed during this second week of 2024, particularly among those under 5 years old. (10.8% against 7% seven days earlier).
“The proportion of visits to the emergency room for acute gastroenteritis amounts to 1.6% among all visits to the emergency room (versus 1.9% in week 01). This activity is higher than the 2022-2023 season and is between historical minimums and maximums. Only one region is in high activity (New Aquitaine).“
