Avian flu is back. This time, there are growing fears of transmission to humans, and then between individuals, the start of a possible new pandemic. On February 6, 2025, the Directorate General of Health issued a urgent note for general and specialist doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists. This details the precautions to take when treating patients with flu-like symptoms. Practitioners must now ask them about the frequency of their contact with animals. Initially, contact with poultry and pigs is sought, but domestic animals in general are also affected, including cats and dogs.
If patients with flu symptoms have been in contact with animals, caregivers will have to take a nasopharyngeal swab and also eye swabs in the case of conjunctivitis to search for flu by RT-PCR. Laboratories must target the type (A or B) and the seasonal subtype (H1 and H3). If the samples are positive, a report must be made immediately to the regional health agencies (ARS). During the few days between the sample and the results, the patient must limit contact with their loved ones and once again adopt all the barrier measures that prevailed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
English 
French