Peak in flu cases in France expected in January
Pressure on hospitals is expected to intensify after the holiday period
The French public health authority recommends vaccination against flu
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Seasonal flu cases in France are expected to reach a peak in January, with emergency services warning that pressure on hospitals will intensify immediately after the holiday period.
“We know that at the beginning of January we will be in a very tough situation,” said Dr Louis Soulat, vice-president of Samu Urgences de France and head of the Samu service in Ille-et-Vilaine, speaking on Franceinfo on December 26.
The flu epidemic is currently at a “moderate” level, according to the weekly report from Santé publique France (SPF), but all mainland regions are now classified as being in an epidemic phase.
The public health agency expects the flu peak to occur in late December or early January, following increased social mixing over Christmas and New Year.
Dr Soulat stressed that the epidemic has not yet reached its most acute phase.
He noted that hospitals remain below the levels seen last winter, when many facilities were forced to activate emergency “plan blanc” procedures.
However, he said activity is already “strong and dense”, particularly in emergency departments.
Rise in hospitalisations
Hospitalisations linked directly to flu have increased by around 10–15% over the previous week, largely due to complications among vulnerable patients, including older people and young children.
SPF data show that while all age groups are affected, the impact is most pronounced among under-15s and those aged 65 and over, where flu activity has reached a moderate intensity.
The holiday calendar is adding to the strain. This year’s extended weekends after both Christmas and New Year are complicating staff rota planning, Dr Soulat said.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, 17 GPs have been requisitioned until January 4 to ensure continuity of out-of-hours care.
National surveillance figures underline the speed of the increase.
During the week of December 15-21, there were an estimated 349 flu-related consultations per 100,000 inhabitants, up 24% on the previous week.
Emergency departments recorded more than 15,300 visits for flu-like illness, a rise of 45%, while hospital admissions following emergency visits rose by 50% to more than 2,500 cases.
Between early and mid-December, SPF reported a 60% national increase in both emergency visits and hospitalisations for flu.
Vaccination remains recommended, with SPF noting that it is still possible to be vaccinated against both flu and Covid-19.
Officials are also urging continued use of basic preventive measures, including handwashing, ventilation and mask-wearing when symptomatic, to limit further spread.
