Gastro-enteritis epidemic spreads
Wash hands to avoid illness, doctors say
DOCTORS are urging people to take care over washing their hands as an epidemic of gastro-enteritis spreads.
The epidemic, declared at the start of the month, has so far seen about 400,000 in mainland France consult their doctors because of acute diarrhea (with half of that number in the last week).
Numbers are continuing to climb this week, warns Sentinelles-Inserm, a health surveillance network of hundreds of GPs.
“You should wash your hands anyway, but we make use of epidemics to remind people of the importance of it. It’s best to use soap and keep disinfectant gels for times when you can’t use it, like when travelling.”
A recent study by a national safety institute, Inpes, found 40% of people do not regularly wash their hands before preparing food.
Areas that are most affected by the outbreak include PACA, Limousin, Haute-Normandie, Champagne-Ardenne and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
The map shown displays numbers of cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the “epidemic” level being said to be reached at 282. Red corresponds to 300, dark orange 250 and light orange 200, descending through yellow and light to dark greens (dark green – no cases at all).
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