Flu killed 13,000 this winter

The winter flu epidemic claimed 13,000 lives, according to provisional figures.

The illness dipped below epidemic levels in mid-April, Santé publique France said in a statement. The number of deaths was down on the flu outbreak in the winter of 2016/17, when 14,400 people died.

A total 93% of those who died from influenza this winter were aged 65 or more, and most of the fatalities were concentrated in two 'mortality peaks' - the first week of 2018, and March 5 - 11.

Corsica and Occitanie saw a 14% rise in mortality rates during the winter flu period, while Hauts-de-France and Normandy both saw 12% increases. The majority of the additional deaths were ascribed to winter flu - a figure authorities said would be reduced if more people had an annual flu jab.