Inès Zeghloul, edited by Yanis Darras
After almost two years of absence, the flu returns to the French infectious landscape, with nearly a month in advance, note the doctors. As a result, thousands of French people, particularly the oldest, find themselves infected when they wanted to be vaccinated at the start of next year, indicates infectious disease specialist Benjamin Davido.
She had been eclipsed for a time by le Covid, but for the winter of 2022-2023, the flu is making a resounding return to the lives of the French. In one week, the number of hospitalizations jumped by 118%. An impressive figure that puts pressure on the hospital systemalready faced with the epidemic of bronchiolitis and Covid-19.
“As we very strongly relaxed the barrier gestures, we found ourselves in optimal conditions for the circulation of infectious agents, and of course the flu which is a winter disease”, notes infectiologist Benjamin Davido at microphone from Europe 1.
Patients who do not anticipate
“The flu usually rages at the beginning of January. This season, we are a month ahead. Last year, we were able to enjoy some sort of special protection since I remind you that there was the vaccination pass and therefore a double Covid / flu vaccination, with sometimes also a catch-up of the flu vaccination for some. But this year, we do not have this motivational starter to go for an earlier vaccination ” , he continues.
A problem, which also facilitates the circulation of the virus, explains the infectiologist. As a result, “I have patients who tell me very clearly that they usually get the flu vaccine at the beginning of January, because they know that the epidemic is starting around this time. And, as a result, we find ourselves with people who became infected when they were going to go for vaccination, but unfortunately too late”, assures Benjamin Davido.