Is the swine flu epidemic over?

SWINE flu is no longer officially an epidemic in France, according to new figures from a doctors' union that have been contested by flu observation network Grog.

The Sentinelles-Inserm network, which represents 1,300 GPs around the country, says the number of new cases of the virus has been declining fast for the past two weeks.

It estimates that 130 new cases were detected last week for every 100,000 inhabitants - below the 182 mark that counts as an epidemic.

The recent snap of cold weather across most of France has left many workers and schoolchildren stuck at home - which could explain the reduced spread.

The Sentinelles figures are based on the number of people calling a doctor reporting a fever and a temperature of 39°C or more.

Flu watchdog Grog, which takes into account people with a temperature of 38°C or more, says 144,000 new cases were recorded last week - down by more than half compared with the Christmas period.

However this still works out at 225 people per 100,000 - above the epidemic threshold.

The public vaccination campaign against swine flu continues until September and the jab is now available in GPs' surgeries.

Grog says 6.5 million people have been infected since the start of August - of whom 240 people have died. The virus was officially declared an epidemic by the government in mid-September.