The flu epidemic is very severe: deaths are increasing in all age groups, the virus is actively circulating in France

Santé publique France warns of an increase in the proportion of deaths linked to influenza in all age groups. The authorities deplore lower vaccination coverage than last year, and significant difficulties in hospitals.

The winter flu epidemic has intensified in cities across France and has generated a “very high hospital activity” and a “significant increase in deaths” in the second week of the year, Public Health France reported on Wednesday.

A severe epidemic

The week of January 6 to 12 was marked by a “marked severity of the epidemic” , which reached a “high level of intensity in all age groups”, according to the weekly bulletin published by the health agency.

The dynamics diverge according to age groups: influenza has progressed in community medicine among those under 65, in particular children, but has slowed slightly among people aged 65 and over.

In hospitals, emergency room visits and hospitalizations of children under five years old for flu or flu-like illness have increased sharply. But those of people in all other age groups have decreased, while remaining at “a very high level of intensity”.

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An alarming share of deaths

And the share of deaths with a mention of influenza among all deaths certified electronically has continued to increase (7.3% compared to 5.9% the previous week), “indicating a marked severity of the epidemic”. This represents 611 deaths in the week ending January 12.

This share of deaths due to influenza even climbs to 12.4% in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 9.4% in Grand Est, 9.2% in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and 7.9% in Hauts-de-France and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the health agency specified.

Three strains of the virus are circulating, A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and B/Victoria. In overseas territories, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana are in the epidemic phase, Mayotte in the pre-epidemic phase.

Faced with the circulation “intense” of influenza and its impact on hospitals, the Ministry of Health called on Tuesday for “great vigilance” to “protect the most vulnerable”, ensuring that there will be enough doses to vaccinate until the end of January.

Vaccination coverage lower than last year

In November 30, influenza vaccination coverage was 35.2% among all people targeted for vaccination, 41% among people aged 65 and over, and 19% among those under 65 at risk of severe influenza, according to SPF figures.

These vaccination coverages are lower than those estimated for the 2023-2024 season on the same date, the health agency specifies.

On the other hand, the majority of bronchiolitis indicators are decreasing: in mainland France, five regions are in an epidemic, as are, in overseas territories, Martinique, Guyana and Mayotte, while 7 others are in post-epidemic. Covid-19 circulation is stable at low levels, says SPF.