The flu epidemic is still very active, but shows first signs of decline

As for Covid, the indicators continue to decline or remain stable.

The seasonal flu epidemic remains very active, especially in mainland France and in part of the overseas territories, but is showing signs of abating, the public health agency announced on Wednesday February 14. The week of February 5 to 11, “in France, the circulation of influenza viruses was still very active. However, a trend towards a reduction in the majority of influenza indicators was observed in community medicine and hospitals”summarized Public Health France in its weekly bulletin on acute respiratory infections.

In hospital, visits to emergency rooms for flu/flu-like illness have decreased (-12% in one week, to 10,217), as has the number of hospitalizations subsequently (-3%, to 2,108). Overseas, only Guyana and the West Indies were still struggling with the flu. Fewer French people at risk were vaccinated against the flu this season: 45.9% at the end of December 2023, compared to 50% for the 2022-2023 season on the same date, and 52.7% for those aged 65 and over alone, compared to 54.7% a year ago.

For bronchiolitis and Covid, the reflux is almost over

For two other major respiratory epidemics, bronchiolitis, which mainly affects babies, and Covid, the reflux is almost over. Bronchiolitis no longer concerns any region of the metropolis, and only one, Corsica, remains in the post-epidemic phase. Overseas, only Mayotte remains in an epidemic, Reunion has moved to the post-epidemic stage. In terms of hospitalizations, bronchiolitis will not have reached the exceptionally high level of the 2022-2023 season, but the epidemic will nevertheless have been significant.

As for Covid, which until now causes several waves per year and not an annual seasonal epidemic, the indicators, in community medicine, in hospitals or in wastewater, continue to decline, or remain stable.