Ten regions out of thirteen are still in the flu epidemic. Public Health France, in its weekly report, indicates Wednesday February 1 that after four weeks of decline, the epidemic has started to rise again in the country. The increase in the number of cases was mainly observed in three regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Centre-Val de Loire and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. In the other metropolitan areas, the trend in influenza activity was generally stable.
The seasonal flu epidemic started early this season in France, and added to a particularly intense outbreak of bronchiolitis in babies, as well as a wave of Covid, a "triple epidemic" which put pressure on the care system. Last week, the positivity rate for influenza was up sharply (13 points) in the city, with "an increase in the share of type B/Victoria viruses, which have become the majority", underlines Public Health France.
"However, this virus can quite reinfect people who have already had type A flu", underlines to AFP Benjamin Davido, infectious disease specialist at the Raymond-Poincaré hospital in Garches.
Even if they are on the rise again, the flu indicators remain "at a low level of intensity in the city and in the hospital", notes Public Health France, continuing to insist on the importance of vaccination. Ten days ago, health authorities announced an extension until February 28 of the national flu vaccination campaign.
Bronchiolitis, in decline since the end of 2022, continues to decline over most of the territory, the epidemic having ended in three new regions (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes- French Riviera). It now only affects Mayotte.
