France Faces Escalating Flu Epidemic with Marked Increase in Mortality
The flu epidemic, which began early in December, has intensified across France, resulting in significant mortality rates and severe strain on healthcare facilities.
The flu epidemic currently sweeping across France has taken a significant toll, with public health authorities reporting a marked increase in mortality.
Arriving prematurely in December, the influenza virus has exhibited an alarming rise in intensity, as evidenced by the latest weekly report from Santé publique France, released on January 15. From January 6 to January 12, 611 flu-related deaths were recorded, reflecting a severe situation affecting all age groups, albeit with varying dynamics.
The circulating influenza virus showed increased activity in community healthcare settings among individuals under 65, particularly children.
However, there was a slight decrease among those aged 65 and above.
Emergency department visits and hospital admissions surged substantially due to influenza and influenza-like illness among children under five years old.
Although numbers dropped in other age groups, they remain at a 'very high intensity' level.
Elderly individuals, especially those over 65, remain the most vulnerable to severe flu complications.
Among hospitalized patients for influenza-related conditions, 67% were over 65, who also accounted for 93% of the deaths.
Over 14,600 individuals visited emergency departments with flu or related illnesses in just one week, and more than 3,200 were subsequently hospitalized, constituting 4.6% of all hospital admissions, compared to 5.4% the previous week.
The mortality figures indicate the severity of this epidemic wave, with references to the flu constituting 7% of all electronically certified deaths between January 6 and January 12 — a proportion not observed since at least 2020. The highest rates of flu-related deaths were recorded in regions like Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (12.4%), Grand Est (9.4%), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (9.2%), Hauts-de-France, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (both 7.9%), according to Santé publique France.
All-cause mortality data from the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) further highlight the impact, indicating excess mortality during the final week of 2024 and the first week of 2025 among adults aged 15 to 84, and a 'marked excess' among those aged 85 and older.
This rise is 'probably linked to the flu epidemic'.
The healthcare system, already under strain prior to the epidemic, is now overwhelmed.
As of January 14, the Ministry of Health reported that 'about a hundred emergency plans' are activated nationwide, underscoring the scale of the burden, up from 87 just four days earlier.
Major hospitals like university hospital centers are struggling, even with additional measures such as opening 40 extra beds, sometimes in corridor areas, and postponing non-critical health assessments to manage the crisis more effectively, save for essential treatments like chemotherapy.
In response to the severe flu activity and its repercussions, the Ministry of Health issued a call for 'great vigilance' to 'protect the most vulnerable' individuals, including the elderly, immunocompromised persons, and those with comorbidities.
Recommended precautions involve barrier gestures such as wearing masks in symptomatic individuals or those at higher risk, hand hygiene, and above all, vaccination.
Yet, ongoing vaccination campaigns face hurdles.
Despite beginning on October 15, the turnouts remain uninspired, with vaccine coverage hovering around half of the at-risk population for several years, falling short of the World Health Organization's recommendation of 75%.
As of November 30, only 35.2% of those targeted had received a vaccination — 41% among those over 64 years and 19% among those under 65 with risk factors.
More recent data is not explicitly cited, but current coverage is reportedly lower than the previous season, prompting the Ministry to stress the importance of timely vaccination.
'It is still possible to get vaccinated,' the Ministry urged, reiterating the goal of 'protecting the most fragile against severe forms' of flu.
Anne-Claude Crémieux, President of the Technical Vaccination Committee of the French High Authority for Health, emphasized that the vaccine aligns well with at least two circulating strains — A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B/Victoria, potentially offering prevention efficacy in line with past seasons.
Meanwhile, influenza is not the only respiratory challenge.
COVID-19 continues to spread at a low but stable intensity, with an incidence rate estimated at 12 cases per 100,000 residents.
The bronchiolitis epidemic also shows a decline following its December peak, although it remains operational in five metropolitan regions, as well as in Martinique, Guyana, and Mayotte, with less intensity than in previous years.
Arriving prematurely in December, the influenza virus has exhibited an alarming rise in intensity, as evidenced by the latest weekly report from Santé publique France, released on January 15. From January 6 to January 12, 611 flu-related deaths were recorded, reflecting a severe situation affecting all age groups, albeit with varying dynamics.
The circulating influenza virus showed increased activity in community healthcare settings among individuals under 65, particularly children.
However, there was a slight decrease among those aged 65 and above.
Emergency department visits and hospital admissions surged substantially due to influenza and influenza-like illness among children under five years old.
Although numbers dropped in other age groups, they remain at a 'very high intensity' level.
Elderly individuals, especially those over 65, remain the most vulnerable to severe flu complications.
Among hospitalized patients for influenza-related conditions, 67% were over 65, who also accounted for 93% of the deaths.
Over 14,600 individuals visited emergency departments with flu or related illnesses in just one week, and more than 3,200 were subsequently hospitalized, constituting 4.6% of all hospital admissions, compared to 5.4% the previous week.
The mortality figures indicate the severity of this epidemic wave, with references to the flu constituting 7% of all electronically certified deaths between January 6 and January 12 — a proportion not observed since at least 2020. The highest rates of flu-related deaths were recorded in regions like Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (12.4%), Grand Est (9.4%), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (9.2%), Hauts-de-France, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (both 7.9%), according to Santé publique France.
All-cause mortality data from the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) further highlight the impact, indicating excess mortality during the final week of 2024 and the first week of 2025 among adults aged 15 to 84, and a 'marked excess' among those aged 85 and older.
This rise is 'probably linked to the flu epidemic'.
The healthcare system, already under strain prior to the epidemic, is now overwhelmed.
As of January 14, the Ministry of Health reported that 'about a hundred emergency plans' are activated nationwide, underscoring the scale of the burden, up from 87 just four days earlier.
Major hospitals like university hospital centers are struggling, even with additional measures such as opening 40 extra beds, sometimes in corridor areas, and postponing non-critical health assessments to manage the crisis more effectively, save for essential treatments like chemotherapy.
In response to the severe flu activity and its repercussions, the Ministry of Health issued a call for 'great vigilance' to 'protect the most vulnerable' individuals, including the elderly, immunocompromised persons, and those with comorbidities.
Recommended precautions involve barrier gestures such as wearing masks in symptomatic individuals or those at higher risk, hand hygiene, and above all, vaccination.
Yet, ongoing vaccination campaigns face hurdles.
Despite beginning on October 15, the turnouts remain uninspired, with vaccine coverage hovering around half of the at-risk population for several years, falling short of the World Health Organization's recommendation of 75%.
As of November 30, only 35.2% of those targeted had received a vaccination — 41% among those over 64 years and 19% among those under 65 with risk factors.
More recent data is not explicitly cited, but current coverage is reportedly lower than the previous season, prompting the Ministry to stress the importance of timely vaccination.
'It is still possible to get vaccinated,' the Ministry urged, reiterating the goal of 'protecting the most fragile against severe forms' of flu.
Anne-Claude Crémieux, President of the Technical Vaccination Committee of the French High Authority for Health, emphasized that the vaccine aligns well with at least two circulating strains — A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B/Victoria, potentially offering prevention efficacy in line with past seasons.
Meanwhile, influenza is not the only respiratory challenge.
COVID-19 continues to spread at a low but stable intensity, with an incidence rate estimated at 12 cases per 100,000 residents.
The bronchiolitis epidemic also shows a decline following its December peak, although it remains operational in five metropolitan regions, as well as in Martinique, Guyana, and Mayotte, with less intensity than in previous years.
