If it is almost too late to get the vaccine (it takes three weeks for the vaccine to take effect), it is not too late to get it. The influenza virus has passed the epidemic threshold. “We have crossed the epidemic peak” of influenza, which is beginning to ebb in certain regions, in particular in Paca and Ile-de-France, informed the minister at the Ministry of Health in Paris.
But should we expect an immediate decline? “This does not mean that it disappears”, defended the minister, quoted by Reuters. According to her, there would be “as many patients as we have known until a few days ago”, that is to say “2.5 million”. In total, the flu should therefore concern “on arrival between 4.5 and 5 million people, no doubt”, still according to the minister.
The Minister of Health’s announcement comes days after the ORSAN plan triggered (organization of the offer of care in exceptional health situations). The system provides in particular for the opening of additional beds to take care of the sick as well as the reinforcement of medical teams. A necessary measure while some emergency physicians have complained of a difficult health situation to manage, especially with overcrowded hospitals.
These tensions are linked to the intensity of the epidemic this year. “Last week was characterized by a very significant increase both in the number of cases but especially in the number of hospitalizations for serious cases”, which increased by 50%, continued the minister before acknowledging that this year the vaccine was less effective: “the virus has mutated, other strains have appeared against which the vaccine is less effective”.
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