The flu continues to be very present in France, however this progression is less marked this week than at the beginning of February.
- According to the latest weekly bulletin from Public Health France, the flu epidemic continues to progress in France.
- The increases in epidemic indicators recorded in the 5th week of 2023 are, however, lower than at the end of January, beginning of February.
- The type B influenza virus is the majority in the cases analyzed in the city, but the type A viruses are always present.
The flu is still very present on French soil. The incidence rate of consultations for flu syndrome is 174 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the latest weekly newsletter published by Santé Publique France on February 15, 2023. This represents an increase of 21% compared to the previous week. And this is not the only indicator in progress.
Influenza: indicators still on the rise but less marked
Like the incidence rate of influenza, other indicators of an epidemic such as the proportion of influenza-like illnesses among SOS Médecins procedures increased during the week of February 6 to 12, 2023. On the other hand, this increase – visible in all age groups – was less marked than that observed between the previous two weeks.
“The upward trend concerned 9 of the 13 metropolitan regions and particularly in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, which remained, with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie, among the most affected regions in the 6th week of 2023 (W06, Editor’s note). In the other four regions, the activity for influenza was stable in S06 compared to the 5th week”indicates Public Health France in its report.
Seasonal flu viruses very present in hospitals
Health professionals are still dealing with many cases of the flu. At the hospital, the number of visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations for flu-like symptoms have climbed in all age groups. The trend is particularly visible among those under 14 and those aged 65 and over for hospitalizations (respectively +25% and +23%).
“After reaching exceptionally high levels in the last two weeks of 2022 and then decreasing until the 3rd week of 2023, the share of hospitalizations for influenza/influenza-like illness continued to increase in S06 (12.7/1,000 all-cause hospitalizations vs. 10.7/1,000 in S05), going from a low to moderate intensity level in all age groups”specifies the health organization.
Like the previous week, the type B flu virus (Victoria) is spreading in the city while the type A viruses are still present. Moreover, the latter remained in the majority in the hospital (57% in S06) with a “recent trend of increasing proportion of type B virus”.
