Since November, 22 people have died of the flu and the epidemic continues to rage in France, according to a report from Public Health France published on January 29. Among the victims are two children under the age of fifteen.
If the whole world is currently watching the coronavirus from China, in France, it is especially the flu that we must be wary of. In fact, since November, 22 people have died from it and theepidemic continues to rage in all mainland regions except Normandy, currently in the pre-epidemic phase, and in Reunion, where it is over. These are the main conclusions of the Bulletin of Public Health France published on January 29. According to the health agency, the victims are “2 children under 15, 12 cases aged 15-64 and 8 cases aged 65 and over”.
Since the beginning of November, “244 serious cases of influenza have been reported” and admitted to intensive care, including 29 last week. The patients were on average 53 years old and 75% of them presented risk factors. Among these people, three quarters were not vaccinated. Last week, the flu represented 190 consultations in France per 100,000 inhabitants, i.e. a “sharp increase” rate compared to the previous week (122), notes Public Health France. The agency specifies: “The proportion of flu-like illnesses among SOS-Doctors consultations is also increasing sharply” (11.3% last week against 7.3% the previous one).
Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for influenza or influenza-like illness have also increased. There were 5,514 and 460 respectively last week, compared to 3,480 and 335 the week before. The passages mainly concern children under five (35%) and 15-44 year olds (31%). The very young are also the most hospitalized, ahead of those aged 75 and over (29% versus 21%).
A person with the flu is contagious for an average of six days
Each year, the flu affects between 2 and 6 million people in France and leads to 10,000 deaths on average. Globally, it would kill between 290,000 and 650,000 people every year, according to WHO figures. While epidemics can affect all age groups, the most vulnerable are children under two, adults over 65, people with certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and pregnant women.
In terms of symptoms, the flu first results in great fatigue, chills and a dry, painful cough. In a second time, the throat scratches more and more, the fever rises to more than 39 degrees, the nose runs and the patient suffers from terrible migraines as well as muscle and joint pains.
The incubation time usually lasts between 24 and 48 hours but it can extend to 72 hours. The patient is contagious before the onset of symptoms and this for about six days on average. Contamination can occur in three ways: by air, when the patient projects droplets of saliva into the air while talking, coughing or sneezing, by direct close contact with the latter and finally by contact with objects that he has affected.
Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself from the virus
Thus, in order not to catch the virus, systematically wash your hands after each outing and contact with a patient, recalls Public Health France. Avoid close contact with someone who has the flu, especially if you are fragile, and of course, do not share objects such as cutlery, glasses or toothbrushes. Also remember to ventilate your home daily for 10 to 15 minutes to renew the air and prevent the proliferation of viruses. If you have the flu yourself, remember to sneeze or cough into your elbow and use a single-use tissue. However, to protect yourself from the flu, the best way is still vaccination, recalls Public Health France.
This is why, with the approach of winter, Social Security sent 13 million vouchers to vulnerable people so that they could be vaccinated free of charge in pharmacies. After the injection of the serum, a period of 15 days is necessary to be protected. For more information on the subject, visit the websites of health insurance and of Vaccination info service.
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