Influenza: the epidemic continues, but the first signs of decline are showing

The onset of reflux? The seasonal flu epidemic remains very active, particularly on the French mainland and parts of the overseas territories, but is showing signs of abating, the public health agency said on Wednesday, also noting that bronchiolitis and Covid continue to increase the backlog.

During the week of February 5 to 11, “influenza viruses were still very active in circulation in France. However, a downward trend in most influenza indicators was observed in public health and in hospitals,” Public Health France summarized in its weekly bulletin on acute respiratory infections.

Fewer vaccinations

In hospitals, emergency department visits for influenza/influenza-like illnesses fell (-12% in one week, to 10,217), as did subsequent hospitalizations (-3%, to 2,108). Overseas, only Guyana and the West Indies were still battling the flu.

Fewer French people at risk have been vaccinated against influenza this season: 45.9% at the end of December 2023, compared with 50% in the 2022-2023 season at the same date, and 52.7% only for those aged 65 and older, up from 54.7% a year ago.

In the case of two other major respiratory epidemics – bronchiolitis, which mainly affects infants, and Covid – reflux is almost over. Bronchiolitis no longer affects any region of the metropolis, and only one, Corsica, remains in the post-epidemic phase. Abroad, only Mayotte remains in the epidemic; Reunion has entered the post-epidemic stage. In terms of hospitalizations, bronchiolitis will not reach exceptionally high levels for the 2022-2023 season, but the epidemic will nonetheless be significant.

Covid continues to decline

For Covid, which still causes several waves per year rather than an annual seasonal epidemic, rates in public health, hospitals or wastewater continue to decline or remain stable.

Barely a third of French people aged 65 and over have received a Covid reminder since the start of the autumn campaign. The top health authority, at the request of the ministry, recently announced its support for the “spring Covid-19 vaccination campaign for people aged 80 years and above, and residents of nursing homes/USLDs (care units). care) and people with weakened immune systems,” from April 15 to June 16. She also recommended planning an extension until July 15, “if the epidemiological situation warrants it.”

And given the “unpredictability of the new epidemic wave of Covid-19 and the emergence of new, more virulent variants that could lead to a decline in immunity against severe disease and death,” HAS advised that an “earlier or, if necessary, wider” vaccination campaign should not be ruled out.