France’s Covid-19 Sub-Variant Surge: Importance of Vaccination and Prevention

2023-12-15 20:02:52

As the end-of-year holidays approach, an upsurge in Covid-19 cases is observed in France, particularly since the emergence of a sub-variant of Omicron, with high transmissibility.

The indicators are on the rise. For several weeks, health authorities have noted an increase in Covid-19 cases. Possible carriers of rebounds, several variants of the virus are under reinforced surveillance around the world. A sublineage of BA.2.86, called JN.1, is specially scrutinized.

“We have a new genomics of the variant which is characteristic of escaping immune protection towards infection, not vis-à-vis the serious forms,” ​​said this Friday, December 15 on RTL Antoine Flahault, epidemiologist at the University of Geneva.

In France, at the beginning of December, 30% of Covid cases recorded in the laboratory fell under JN.1. According to the epidemiologist, “it is much more transmissible than the flu virus”.

The importance of vaccination

Different factors can explain a resumption – for the moment moderate – of Covid-19 cases. “Since the start of the pandemic, waves have occurred approximately every four months, mainly due to a drop in population immunity,” notes Xavier Lescure, member of Covars (risk monitoring and anticipation committee). sanitary facilities).

Added to this phenomenon is “the predictable winter resurgence, with falling outdoor temperatures and more time spent indoors, where viral transmissions are facilitated”.

This is why Antoine Flahault, like the Minister of Health this Wednesday, called on the French to be vaccinated – once more – once morest Covid-19 and the flu. “We need a rebound in vaccination. We have crossed 10 million for the flu, we have crossed 5 million for Covid. We are still ahead of last year’s figures for Covid, we must “We’re catching up a little on the flu. And it’s a good time to do it,” declared Aurélien Rousseau.

He added: “Prevention is what ensures that we are going to have a good holiday. And not just us, also the caregivers in the hospital – it’s one of our obsessions. We have the tools to allow that the hostos are not overwhelmed this winter.”

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