2023-12-13 17:04:07
The PACA region is the first affected, but others should follow because the majority are already in the pre-epidemic phase, indicated the Public Health France agency.
The seasonal flu epidemic has now spread to the French metropolis where Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) is the first region affected, health authorities announced on Wednesday, arguing on the other hand that cases of bronchiolitis might have passed a peak and now decline. “We really urge caution», declared Isabelle Parent, epidemiologist at the Public Health France agency, while the third major winter epidemic, that of Covid-19, is on an upward slope. “We must remember that visiting elderly people during the holidays really requires being careful.», she insisted, during a press conference organized by Public Health France for the publication of weekly figures on the main acute respiratory infections.
Last week, ending December 10, was notably marked by the arrival of the flu epidemic in mainland France. The PACA region is the first affected, but others should follow because the majority (eight out of thirteen) are already in the pre-epidemic phase. Overseas, Mayotte remains hit by the epidemic. Covid, for its part, is recording a new increase, noticeable in community medicine as well as in hospitals but also perceptible in wastewater.
Call to get vaccinated
In this context, health authorities reiterated their call to be vaccinated for vulnerable people, particularly those over 65. They were also concerned regarding the poor respect for barrier gestures. According to a Public Health France survey carried out in September, barely more than one in two French people consider it necessary to wear a mask if they have symptoms such as a cough or fever. “In France, we have not yet adopted this barrier gesture which is essential» and remains associated in people’s minds with Covid alone, regretted Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France.
Among the encouraging elements, the bronchiolitis epidemic, which mainly affects babies and experienced particularly high levels last winter, seems to be stabilizing. “A peak is emerging, to be confirmed in the following weeks», summarized the epidemiologist Nicolas Méthy, referring to “a level reached which is lower than that of the previous season».
It is still too early to say to what extent the arrival of a preventive treatment, Beyfortus (Sanofi), has been able to limit the epidemic. However, one element might point in this direction: among the youngest babies, a priori those who have received this treatment largely reserved for maternity wards, the level of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis is significantly lower than last season, while it is comparable for older people.
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