As every year for twelve years, you can contribute to the monitoring of epidemics of acute respiratory infections (seasonal flu and Covid-19) by joining the GrippeNet.fr/CovidNet.fr study. No need to be sick to participate: just register anonymously using an email address and complete an online questionnaire once a week.
The study GrippeNet.fr/CovidNet.fr restarted on November 28, 2022, to allow joint monitoring of influenza and Covid-19. The data collected makes it possible to supplement those from traditional surveillance systems, with data obtained directly from the population. The study notably provides information relating to people who do not consult health services when they are affected by an influenza-like illness. Since March 2020, the system has been adapted to also allow monitoring of the Covid-19 epidemic.
How to participate ?
All people residing in metropolitan France can participate in this study, anonymously and voluntarily, regardless of their age, nationality or state of health. To do this, simply go to www.grippenet.fr and register using an email address.
After completing an initial questionnaire, participants will be invited each week to complete a brief form summarizing the symptoms they have felt or not since their last connection (no symptoms, fever, cough, etc.). Participation requires no more than five to ten minutes per week.
Already participating?
This year, changes to the GrippeNet.fr/COVIDnet.fr website and data collection system require the transfer of existing participant accounts to the new platform. If you are concerned, you have received an e-mail with a link to create a new password and access this new platform. After creating your password, reading and validating the consent notice, you will have access to the questionnaires once more. These adaptations do not modify the initial objective of the project, its operation and the way of participating.
A look back at the 2021–2022 season
Last winter, 773 people took part in GrippeNet.fr/CovidNet.fr, the majority of whom were women (59%) and people with a level of education above the baccalaureate (67%).
Nearly one in five participants (17.4%) experienced symptoms consistent with an acute respiratory infection at least once. The data collected highlights two waves of distinct acute respiratory infections, with respective peak incidence at 3.3% (in week 3 of 2022) and 4.5% (in week 12 of 2022): a consistent observation with that of other surveillance networks, and probably in connection with the circulation of Covid-19 at the start of 2022 and the co-circulation of influenza and Covid-19 between mid-March and the beginning of May 2022.
Regarding the use of diagnostic tests for Covid-19 during an acute respiratory infection, the data indicate that it has evolved throughout the season. The tests PCR were dominant at the start of the season, then nasopharyngeal antigen tests took over at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022. They were finally supplanted by self-tests, from the end of February 2022, even if PCR tests have become dominant at the end of the season (May 2022).
The full report of the season is available on the study website. It presents other aspects explored in the cohort: use of care, flu and Covid-19 vaccination, ad hoc studies on various health topics.
To know more : www.grippenet.fr
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