Paris (AFP)
The seasonal flu epidemic is evolving in a disparate way in mainland France, where it has already caused 44 deaths among more than 500 serious cases reported in intensive care.
The public health agency France, in its weekly report published on Wednesday, notes a "contrasting development in mainland France".
The epidemic peak was reached in Ile-de-France in early February, while a "stability" of the epidemic in the Hauts-de-France, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions and a "decreases in Corsica" were observed last week.
In the other regions, the health agency reports "moderate progress".
Since November 4, 2019, 530 serious cases of influenza admitted to intensive care in mainland France have been reported, including 79 last week.
The majority (75%) of these patients had risk factors for complications, and almost as many (70%) were not vaccinated among those for whom this information could be obtained.
A total of 44 deaths (including 8 children under the age of 15) occurred among these patients admitted to intensive care.
In addition, three deaths in intensive care have been reported at this stage in Martinique and two in Guadeloupe. In Mayotte, the epidemic begins, with a serious case in intensive care.
The flu generated a consultation rate "slightly decreasing" (-5%) last week compared to the previous week (296 / 100,000 inhabitants against 314 / 100,000), according to the Sentinelles surveillance network. On the other hand, consultations for SOS Doctors' flu syndrome increased "slightly" (+ 2%) last week.
The number of emergency visits for influenza or influenza-like illness reported by the surveillance network Oscour decreased (-5%) compared to the previous week (8,674 compared to 9,096) but with a number of hospitalizations (925) which increased ( + 11%).
Among influenza hospitalizations after emergency visits, the most represented are children under 5 years of age (31%) and people aged 75 and over (22%).
The share of hospitalizations for influenza or influenza-like illness among all hospitalizations is also "increasing" compared to the previous week (16.2 / 1,000 compared to 14.2 / 1,000).
In addition, for bronchiolitis, "all indicators are falling" in mainland France. Occitania is entering the post-epidemic phase. The epidemic continues in Mayotte.
For "gastro", the Sentinelles-Inserm network notes a reduction "for the fifth consecutive week" of "the activity of acute diarrhea observed in general medicine". Last week, the most affected regions were Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (477 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (422) and Pays de la Loire (399).
© 2020 AFP