The results of winter 2014-2015 were heavy. The virus flu caused a 19% increase in mortality and an additional cost of 80 million euros for Social Security. It gave rise to 2.9 million consultations, but above all to 30,000 emergency room visits followed by more than 3,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 1,600 serious cases admitted to intensive care.
As such, the Directorate General of Health, Cnamts, the Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) and the National Institute for Prevention and Education for Health (Inpes) recall in a communicated that vaccination is the best means of prevention to protect against influenza and limit its complications.
The flu vaccination campaign is aimed at the 10 million people who must be protected and who, as such, can benefit from 100% coverage of the vaccine: these are people aged 65 and over, people with certain chronic diseases, pregnant women.
Good reflexes against the flu
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. They are therefore of no use in treating colds and the flu.
To protect yourself from influenza viruses, wash your hands regularly, before eating, or after taking public transport. To protect others, it is also advisable to sneeze into a tissue, which you will then throw in the trash. If you are affected by the disease, it is advisable to stay warm in your bed and to hydrate yourself. To lower the fever if it exceeds 38.5 ° C, take 1 to 2 tablets of paracetamol at 500 mg per dose (even if a recent study questioned the interest of paracetamol against influenza), to be renewed in case of need after 4 hours minimum, without exceeding 3 g per day.
To shorten the symptoms, you can be prescribed an antiviral (Relenza, Tamiflu). To be effective, they must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
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