After 7 weeks of flu epidemic in mainland France, the most affected regions remain Champagne, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Haute-Normandie. Only Corsica has finished.
The flu epidemic (1) that has raged in France for several weeks is not weakening, quite the contrary! In mainland France, last week (March 7 to 13, 2016), the incidence rate of cases of influenza syndromes seen in general medicine consultation was estimated at 425 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, or 277,000 new cases above. the epidemic threshold (131 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
In 7 weeks, 1,433,000 people would have consulted a doctor for this reason. And the list of patients is not about to stop. In his last bulletin, InVS (2) notes that after a period of stabilization, “the incidence of influenza-like illnesses has been increasing for two weeks”. This is “possibly linked to the cold snap and the end of school holidays,” she says.
To further reassure those who have escaped it for the moment, the InVS adds in addition “that the peak has still not been crossed in metropolitan France”.
End of the epidemic in Corsica
At the regional level, the highest incidence rates were observed in: Champagne-Ardenne (853 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Nord-Pas-de-Calais (814) and Haute-Normandie (728).
This resumption of activity means that in total, there are currently twenty regions with an incidence rate above the national epidemic threshold. Corsica is the only region where the epidemic is not continuing. It should soon be followed by Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon, Rhône-Alpes and Île-de-France.
Finally, concerning the cases reported, last week, the median age was 16 years (3 months to 94 years); and men accounted for 50% of cases. The clinical pictures reported by the Sentinels doctors did not present any particular sign of seriousness with no hospitalization for influenza-like illness reported.
Many children hospitalized
The Oscour® network (3) is not of the same opinion. It reported 4,813 passages for influenza or flu syndrome including 329 hospitalizations. After a drop observed in week 09, the numbers of visits and hospitalizations increased again compared to the previous week. “Children under 15 represent the majority of passages and hospitalizations for influenza,” he concludes.
(1) Sentinels doctors monitor the number of cases of influenza-like illnesses seen in consultation. They are defined by a fever above 39 ° C, of sudden onset, accompanied by myalgia and respiratory signs.
(2) Institute for Health Watch
(2) The Oscour network represents 89% of all emergency room visits in mainland France.
#Influenza: more than 1.4 million French people consulted in 7 weeks
Posted by Why doctor on Wednesday March 16, 2016
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