February 1, 2018.
Since October and until the first week of January, the flu would have caused an excess mortality estimated at 2,850 deaths. Everywhere in France, the flu has reached its epidemic peak and the number of declared cases is starting to decrease.
The flu is responsible for an excess mortality of 2,850 deaths
Even if it is too early to draw the first conclusions from the winter flu epidemic that has hit France since last October, Public Health France evokes an excess mortality of 4,800 deaths, at least until the beginning of January. Of these deaths, 2,850 are directly attributed to influenza.
In a statement, the organization states that ” almost 90% of these deaths concern people aged 65 and over “. The organization further specifies that ” in view of the provisional figures of excess all-cause mortality and deaths attributable to influenza observed at this stage of the epidemic, the excess mortality observed during this season should be lower than that of the previous season “.
Vaccination coverage has been insufficient this year
The 2017-2018 epidemic, the peak of which was reached in all metropolitan regions during the week of January 15 to 21, will therefore, in all likelihood, be much less fatal than last year. The 2016-2017 season was marked by a record excess mortality and the authorities announced a death toll of 21,200, including 14,400 directly attributed to influenza..
Even if the results of this year are weaker, the authorities draw the first conclusions of this epidemic and estimate that vaccine coverage was again insufficient. Every year, communication campaigns around vaccination are aimed in particular at the elderly who are more likely to suffer from the effects of the flu.
Gaelle Latour
Read also 10 things to know about the flu
