Public Health France (SPF) published (January 11) recent data relating to the influenza epidemic (season 2022-2023); these are the data for the first week of the year 2023. SPF notes in metropolitan France, a “decrease in all flu indicators in all age groups and in all metropolitan regions”. For example, the rate of consultations for flu-like illness estimated from data from the Sentinelles network was 215/100,000 inhabitants, down from the last week of 2022 (consolidated data 236/100,000, i.e. -9% ). This downward trend was observed in all age groups, particularly among those under 15 years of age. Other data, the proportion of flu-like illnesses among SOS Médecins consultations also fell by – 4.8 points between the first week of 2023 and the last of 2022. There was also a drop in visits to the emergency room or intensive care: – 53%. In the first week of 2023, most influenza indicators were down in all regions. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions were the most affected regions according to data from SOS Médecins and emergency room visits. That same week, all regions were still in the epidemic phase. He also notes a “still active circulation of influenza viruses”, with a “possible upward recovery in the coming weeks”. In addition, the “share of influenza-related deaths is high among people aged 15 to 44 years. Among the 66,900 deaths declared in mainland France by electronic death certificate, in week 40 of the year 2022, 776 (1.2%) were declared with a mention of influenza as a morbid condition having directly caused or contributed to the death; the number of deaths due to influenza recorded in the first week of 2023 is 220 cases. SPF reports that Saint-Martin is facing an epidemic phase of the flu. The flu does not only concern France. In mid-December 2022, the evolution of influenza activity was generally increasing. Of the 32 European countries participating in the surveillance, eleven countries reported influenza activity at a low level, five at a moderate level (including France), eleven at a high level and five at a very high level (Austria, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg and Russia), over the last week of 2022. Of the 31 countries that reported the spread of influenza activity, 22 (including France) reported a nationwide spread, six reported a spread regional, one reported local spread, one reported sporadic cases and one reported no activity. In its bulletin, SPF recalls, given the context, that it is “therefore essential that people at risk continue to protect themselves by resorting to vaccination once morest seasonal flu and Covid-19”. “In addition to this vaccination, the systematic adoption by all of barrier gestures remains an effective means of protecting once morest respiratory infections and their complications by limiting the risk of transmission of these viruses to those around them, in particular people at risk of severe flu”, concludes SPF.
