Paris (AFP)
The flu epidemic, which we have been feeling in France in recent weeks, has officially started in two regions, Ile-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the public health agency said on Wednesday. France.
Others should soon follow them, since all the other metropolitan regions are in the pre-epidemic phase, notes Public Health France in its weekly bulletin.
Since November 4, in intensive care, "135 serious cases of influenza have been reported" in France, including 22 last week, and 11 patients died.
The average age of these serious cases is 51 years, and almost 80% presented with risk factors (age over 65, chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiac and respiratory failure ...). Three-quarters of patients with risk factors were not vaccinated.
In the past week, influenza in France represented a consultation rate of 85 per 100,000 inhabitants, an increase compared to the previous week (56).
"The proportion of influenza-like illness among SOS Doctors' consultations is also increasing (5.4% compared to 4.4%)", according to the health agency.
In addition, the share of hospitalizations for influenza or influenza-like illness "increased slightly compared to the previous week (4.3 / 1,000 compared to 4.1 / 1,000)".
Influenza and influenza-like illnesses have caused 2,500 emergency room visits in the past week, resulting in 246 hospitalizations.
Still within the scope of winter epidemics, gastroenteritis continues to strengthen, notes the Sentinelles-Inserm surveillance network.
In mainland France, last week, the rate of new cases of acute diarrhea seen in general practice consultations was estimated at 398 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 326 the previous week.
The most affected regions are Pays-de-la-Loire (677 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Hauts-de-France (568) and Nouvelle-Aquitaine (489).
On the other hand, the epidemic of bronchiolitis, a frequent respiratory disease which affects babies under 2 years of age, is marking time everywhere in mainland France, and has ended in Ile-de-France.
© 2020 AFP