January 8, 2018.
The return to school took place this Monday, January 8 and the health authorities fear that this return will give the flu epidemic a new lease of life.
Children under 15 are particularly targeted
The Christmas holidays have just ended and, in many families, they have been marked by the flu epidemic. According to Public Health France, all the regions in metropolitan France are in “ epidemic phase “, Except Corsica, which would be in” pre-epidemic phase “. Some students who have returned to school may be carriers of the virus, so you will have to be very careful.
It will be necessary to be all the more vigilant that, according to the Ministry of Health, the type A virus (H1N1), ” particularly affects young people under the age of 15 “. This category of population has indeed represented ” 49% of emergency room visits for flu syndrome, 20% of which led to hospitalization ” these last weeks. The health authorities therefore call on parents to be responsible.
Be very careful because the virus is very contagious
” Preventing the start of the new school year where the flu epidemic risks spreading in schools “, The Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn notably asked the parents” not to send a child who potentially has the flu to school “. The virus is very contagious and students must also adopt reflexes not to get sick. They should wash their hands regularly and keep their distance from sick people.
According to Public Health France, the epidemic is particularly fierce this year: in the week of December 25 to 31 alone, nearly 12,000 emergency visits for influenza or flu syndrome were identified, an increase of more than 80% compared to the previous week. In addition, the flu has already caused the death of 31 people since November 1 among the ” severe cases of influenza admitted to intensive care “.
Marine Rondot
Also read: 5 natural remedies for flu and colds
