Flu epidemic worst in 12 years
More than 1.2 million people have been hit by the virus in the last month, with the peak expected in the next two weeks.
FRANCE is in the grip of its worst flu epidemic for 12 years.
More than 1.2 million people have been struck by the virus in the past five weeks according to GROG – a federation of regional bodies which studies flu outbreaks.
The regions worst affected are Britanny, Basse-Normandie and the Rhône-Alpes where 1.38%, 1.31% and 1.24% of the population has caught the bug – the threshold for an epidemic is 0.17%.
The next worse regions affected are the Auvergne, Champagne-Ardenne and Alsace.
GROG predicts that the peak of the epidemic will hit over the next two weeks.
The statistics group Inserm has recorded a rise of 56% in sick leave compared to the last two years and the sale of flu-drugs has risen 66% over the same period.
Across the country GPs are seeing more than 130,000 extra patients a day. Such levels have not been recorded since the winter of 1996/1997.
The cost of a flu outbreak in terms of lost work, medicine and doctors’ hours is estimated at €100 million per million cases.
OVER-65s and people suffering from certain chronic illnesses benefit from free flu vaccinations.
Those eligible should already have received coupons in the post. Coupons can be taken to a pharmacy where the vaccine is collected, you can then get a nurse to administer it.
Previously you had to take the coupon to the doctor for a prescription, buy the vaccine and then return to the doctor for the injection.
Those not eligible for a free jab, can buy a vaccine and take it to their doctor as before.
