This winter, the flu epidemic is particularly strong because three viruses are circulating at the same time: H1N1, H3N2 and B-Victoria.
- This winter, three influenza viruses (H1N1, H3N2 and B-Victoria) are circulating simultaneously, which explains the intensity of the epidemic.
- These viruses particularly affect certain age groups.
- Faced with this situation, the vaccination campaign was extended until February 28.
H1N1, H3N2 and B-Victoria, these are the names of the three influenza viruses circulating simultaneously this winter. Although they can affect everyone, these viruses are more present and severe in certain age groups.
The co-circulation of three influenza viruses explains the intensity of the epidemic
“This co-circulation of three viruses, which are described to have a different impact depending on age groups, is unusual and could explain why all age groups are significantly affected.”, can we read in a press release published this Wednesday, January 22 by Public Health France.
The first, H1N1, is very present in young adults. The second, H3N2, affects the elderly more severely, while B-Victoria is more dangerous for children, because they are generally less well protected against this virus.
“The H1N1 subtype causes complications less often in older people than H3N2, underlines Antoine Flahault, Epidemiologist and director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, News. Likewise, type B viruses less often cause fatal complications than type A viruses.”
In his weekly newsletterpublished this Wednesday, January 22, Public Health France indicates that for the week of January 13 to 19, the “indicators [sont] on the rise among those under 15” and note it “marked severity of the epidemic, with hospital activity still high and still significant impact in terms of deathss”.
In detail, the health authority notes that “in hospital, we observed a clear increase in flu/flu-like syndrome indicators among visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations among those under 15 years old, particularly among those aged 5-14. On the other hand, these indicators were decreasing among those over 15 years old”. Furthermore, according to the Ministry of Healththose aged 65 and over represent 67% of hospitalizations after going to the emergency room for flu or influenza-like illness.
But why are those under 15 particularly affected? “Patients develop a particular immune memory, indicates Brigitte Virey, president of the National Union of French Pediatricians (SNPF), FranceInfo. Some, among the youngest, have never been exposed to a flu virus and do not have antibodies.”. This is due to the co-circulation of the three viruses, which exposes them much more than in previous years to “new” viruses.
The same symptoms for all flu viruses
Concerning the symptoms of the flu, they do not change depending on the virus. This disease remains characterized by fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, a feeling of deep malaise and respiratory signs such as a dry cough or rhinitis. According to the Pasteur Institutefragile people are more at risk of developing a serious form of the disease, which can lead to death.
Each year, out of the 2 to 6 million people who suffer from the flu, 10,000 die from seasonal flu. Faced with the intensity of this winter’s epidemic, the Ministry of Health extended the vaccination campaign by one month. You therefore have until February 28 to take the injection.
