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Flu is on the rise again in France: Which areas are most affected?
New data shows the illness is increasing after four consecutive weeks of improvement
The flu epidemic is on the rise again in France after four weeks of retreat.
A total of 10 out of 13 regions in the country are on red alert, meaning they are at ‘epidemic’ level. Three regions are particularly affected.
They are: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Centre-Val-de-Loire and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
The increase in cases comes after four consecutive weeks of decrease. Most of the cases are of the B/Victoria strain, national health authority Santé publique France said in its most recent bulletin.
Flu season began early in France this winter and it came alongside a particularly severe epidemic of bronchiolitis which hit infants and babies hard. Continuing cases of Covid-19 led health authorities to speak of a “triple epidemic” that put healthcare facilities under major strain.
New tests were even released that could test for both viruses at the same time.
Read more: Flu and Covid: New tests in France can detect both viruses at once
In November, professionals said that the cause of the wider spread was partly caused by “vaccination fatigue” and a lack of eligible people having their anti-flu vaccine.
Read more: Covid, flu and bronchiolitis are ‘hitting hard’ in France this year
From January 23-29, positive tests for flu rose by 13%. This trend applied to all ages except for those aged under five.
The number of people going to A&E due to flu-related issues rose by 14%, and the number of people being admitted to hospital after being seen also rose, by 13%.
In contrast, bronchiolitis is continuing to retreat, after beginning to calm down in December. The regions of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur are no longer at epidemic levels, after having suffered badly last year.
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