January 17, 2019.
According to the latest bulletin from Public Health France, eight regions in eastern France are today above the epidemic threshold. We take stock.
Eight regions of eastern France above the influenza epidemic threshold
” Eight regions are in an epidemic and five are in the pre-epidemic phase “. The national agency of public health “Public health France” published, on January 16, its last epidemiological bulletin on influenza in France. If it arrived late this year, the flu seems to be progressing rapidly.
After’Occitania, seven regions have thus entered the epidemic phase: Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand-Est, Hauts-de-France, New Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Brittany, Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Center-Val de Loire and Corsica are in a pre-epidemic situation.
Respect strict hygiene measures during an influenza epidemic
According to the latest figures, nearly 3,000 (2,972) emergency room visits for influenza or influenza-like illness (against 2,583 the previous week) and 408 hospitalizations (against 290) were recorded during the week of January 7 to 13, 2019. Public Health France reports also that, since November 1, 2018, 171 severe cases of influenza have been reported, including 40 in the week of January 7 to 13, and the average age of cases is 58.
The health agency recalls that vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself from the flu and its complications. Note that a period of fifteen days after vaccination is necessary to be protected. If you are not vaccinated, you should follow strict hygiene measures: wash your hands frequently with soap and water or a hydroalcoholic solution, use a disposable tissue, sneeze in your elbow rather than in your hands and wear a disposable mask when you have flu-like illness, especially in contact with frail people.
Aurélie Giraud
Read also: 10 things to know about the flu
