La circulation du Covid-19 rest sustained but seems to stabiliser across the island, except for the Extreme South-Alta Rocca and some eastern plaintwo territories characterized in recent days by an increase in incidence and positivity rates.
At the same time, the flu epidemic is accelerating. Thus, as noted Public health Francenumber of going to the emergency room pour flu syndrome increases compared to previous weeks, going from 11 the previous week to 21 this week once morest a weekly average of 5 between the very end of November and the beginning of December. Since the beginning of last week, two people with the flu have also been hospitalized.
The flu has gained visibility in the city too. Out of a total of 2,786 consultations carried out by SOS doctors, 199 gave rise to a diagnosis of flu-like illness compared to 83 a week earlier. In their offices, general practitioners are also seeing more and more cases of flu, even if very often, “it is difficult to differentiate, at first glance, a Covid patient with respiratory signs from a patient with the flu. Many people use Covid self-tests today. However, testing oneself remains an exercise rather difficult”observe practitioners.
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The test once morest Covid carried out by a health professional might tip the scales in one direction or another. The rapid diagnostic orientation test – Trod – for influenza too. This can only be done at the pharmacy, at the doctor’s, in a laboratory or at the hospital, and always in the event of symptoms. It does not require a medical prescription and consists of a nasal swab. The result is known following twenty minutes. However, the method has its limits. First, because only type A and B viruses are detectable. Then, the health authorities warn of the existence of “false negatives“, the sensitivity of flu tests being estimated at 60%.
According to the Sentinelles research and surveillance network, the predominant influenza viruses at this epidemic stage at the national and local level “are of type A, with the subtype A(H3N2) predominantly”.
92% unvaccinated
The 2022 version of the flu has comparable effects, in many respects, with that of 2021. “The characteristics of the flu cases are close to those of the positive flu cases observed during the seasons spent in general medicine consultation”, sum it up. In this same scope, the median age of patients is 24 years. Parity is respected with 50% women. 14% of patients have risk factors. The best way to protect yourself once morest seasonal flu is obviously vaccination. 92% of infected patients have not received their vaccine.
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This end of the year is still marked by the persistence of the bronchiolitis epidemic. On the island, 32 consultations for bronchiolitis were carried out by SOS doctors last week, ie 18.8% of the total consultations for children under 2 years old. In the same period, the emergency room recorded 28 passages for bronchiolitis, 21.2% of the total passages of children under 2 years old. In addition, eleven hospitalizations for bronchiolitis were recorded following a visit to the emergency room in children under 2 years old, once morest 3 the previous week.
On the island as elsewhere, the health authorities fear an upsurge in contamination of all kinds during family and friendly gatherings which will take place for Christmas and then for New Year’s Day. “It is essential that people at risk protect themselves by resorting to vaccination once morest seasonal flu and Covid-19 as soon as possible.we insist.
Barrier gestures, “effective in preventing respiratory infections and their complications”, should also remain the norm.
